Question 1

What is rabies?

Accepted Answer

Rabies is a virtually 100 percent fatal brain disease causes by the rabies virus. All mammals can get infect with the rabies virus but some are at higher risk. The rabies virus is passed from the saliva of a rabid animal through a bite or scratch, or contact with an open wound, eyes, nose, or mouth, Prompt medical care after exposure to the rabies virus prevent rabies.In Idaho, the rabies virus circulates among bats. only a small percentage of bats in the wild have rabies (about 1 in 100). Rarely, bats pass the virus to other mammals. In Idaho, bat rabies viruses have be found in rabid cats, skunks, and a horse, but any mammal could be affected, including your pets and livestock.In some states and U.S. territories, rabies viruses circulate in foxes, skunks, raccoons, or mongoose, as well as bats.

Question 2

Why do we test animals for rabies?

Accepted Answer

We test animals for rabies* to determine if a person who was bitten or otherwise potentially exposed to saliva from an animal needs to be given antibodies and vaccine to prevent rabies. We also test animals who have bitten companion and agricultural animals to decide how to manage the bitten animal. If the bitting animal is a dog, cat, or ferret, it can be held for observation for signs of rabies for 10 days after the bite instead of being tested.*There is no test for rabies in an animal when it is alive. All rabies tests are done on the brain after it is removed from the animal.

Question 3

Where can I get more information on rabies?

Accepted Answer

Visit the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare page on rabies: Rabies | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

Question 4

How can I protect myself against rabies?

Accepted Answer

If you work with animals or travel to another county where rabies is commonly found in dogs, ask your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated against rabies. If a bat bites you, lands on you, or is in the room when someone wakes up, contact your local public health district immediately. If you can, safely capture the bat. See "I found a bat in my home — what do I do?". The local public health district can arrange for testing of the bat for rabies at the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories at no cost. They and their healthcare provider can give you recommendations on medical care to prevent rabies.If any animal bites you, immediately wash the bite thoroughly with soap and water. Contact your healthcare provider and local public health district. They will help figure out how likely you were exposure to rabies and if you need further medical care. The local public health district can decide if the animal should be tested for rabies and help coordinate testing.

Question 5

What are the data sources and limitations of the data show on the Tracking Rabies and Rabies Testing in Idaho dashboard?

Accepted Answer

Data on animals submitted for rabies testing comes from forms submitted to the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories with the animal specimen to be tested, from the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories’ Laboratory Information Management System, and from public health staff interviews.The species and reason for testing require interpretation of information provided on the forms submitted with the animal. Incomplete or inaccurate information may result in inaccuracies in interpretation. Bat species determination is done on specimens submitted the previous year; unknown species may change to a known species afterward.Animal specimens are only submitted if there has been a potential exposure to humans or to certain other animals, OR for rabies surveillance if the submitted animal showed neurologic signs. Consequently, the data displayed should not be used to evaluate how common rabies is in wildlife populations in Idaho.Human rabies case data after 2008 are from Idaho’s reportable disease surveillance system. Data prior to that year were obtained from vital records and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publications. Because human rabies cases are rare, it is possible that cases have occurred that were unrecognized and unreported.

Tracking Rabies and Rabies Testing in Idaho

Click here to return to

What is rabies?

Why do we test animals for rabies?

Where can I get more information on rabies?

How can I protect myself against rabies?

What are the data sources and limitations of the data show on the Tracking Rabies and Rabies Testing in Idaho dashboard?

Additional Infection Disease Dashboards