Rabies Information

Prevention

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All human cases of rabies were fatal until a vaccine was developed in 1885 by Louis Pasteur. Their original vaccine was used from infected rabbits. Currently pre-exposure immunization has been used in both human and non-human populations, whereas in many jurisdictions domesticated animals are required to be vaccinated. In the USA, since the widespread vaccination of domestic dogs and cats and the development of effective human vaccines the number of recorded deaths from rabies has dropped from one hundred or more annually in the early 20th century, to 1 or 2 a year.
The Best Measures to Take in Preventing Rabies Are:
 - Vaccinating your dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies 
- Keeping pets under supervision 
- Not handling wild animals or strays 
- Contacting an animal control service if you see a wild animal or a stray, especially if the animal is acting strangely.
 - Washing the wound, if you are bitten by an animal, and contacting your health care provider