Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. However, in many other countries dogs still carry rabies, and most rabies deaths in people around the world are caused by dog bites.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system. If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.

Rabies Prevention Information

Animals:

There are several things you can do to protect your pet from rabies.  First, visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs.  Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision.  Third, spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly.  Finally, call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood since these animals may be vaccinated or ill.  

People:

Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt, appropriate medical care.  Disease prevention includes administration of both passive antibodies, though an injection of human immune globulin, and a round of infections with rabies vaccine.  Children are often at greatest risk from rabies.  They are more likely to be bitten by dogs and are also more likely to be severely exposed through multiple bites in high-risk sites on the body.  Severe exposures make it more difficult to prevent rabies unless access to good medical care is immediately available.

Rabies Vaccination for People:

Rabies vaccination is recommended for people who come in regular contact with high risk wildlife species before they have a known bite or exposure (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and for people who have been bitten by an animal suspected to have rabies (post-exposure prophylaxis). Rabies vaccination is only available at a few locations in Monterey County.  These include:

• Hospital Emergency Departments (Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Mee Memorial Health System, Natividad, and Salinas Valley Health)
• Dover Travel Clinic

Please call ahead before presenting for rabies pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis to ensure the medical provider has rabies immunoglobulin and vaccination as needed on hand. 

Rabies vaccination can be expensive. However, since this is a life-saving treatment, do not delay treatment due to cost concerns.  Information on cost assistance programs for un- and under-insured individuals can be found on the Rx for Hope website.

Rabies Surveillance Data

Rabies is always present in Monterey County (enzootic), particularly among skunks and bats.  While the canine (dog) variant of rabies is not found in California, all domestic animals in Monterey County including dogs and cats are at risk of infection with skunk and bat variants of rabies.

Please click to view the Communicable Disease dashboard with local rabies data available in English and Spanish.

California data is available at the California Department of Public Health’s rabies website.

United States data is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s rabies website.

Recent Rabies Detections:

• Press Release: Bat Tests Positive for Rabies in Toro Park -  April 5, 2024
• Press Release: Skunk and Fox Test Positive for Rabies in City of Salinas - March 8, 2024

Rabies Information for Medical Providers

Medical providers should report animal bites to the Hitchcock Road Animal Services. A copy of the bite report form can be downloaded here: Report of Rabies Exposure or Animal Bite, Reporte de Exposición a la Rabia o Mordida de un Animal.

Click here for guidance on rabies exposure assessment and post-exposure prophylaxis.

Rabies Information for Veterinarians

Veterinarians should visit the AVMA's rabies website for more information.