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Keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations help prevent the spread of rabies and keep our community safe.
Rabies is a serious but preventable disease. Vaccinating pets and testing animals when rabies exposure is suspected are essential steps to protect people and animals.
What is rabies?
Rabies is a rare but serious disease caused by the rabies virus, which can infect the brains of both people and animals. Once people and animals are infected with the rabies virus, they almost always die. Each year in California, rabies is found in about 200 mostly wild animals. Rabies infects very few humans in the United States and California. Since 1980, rabies has been reported in 17 people in California, most recently in 2024.
How do people and animals get rabies?
People and animals can get rabies if an animal with rabies bites them, or if saliva (slobber) from an animal with rabies gets into a break in their skin or into their eyes, nose, or mouth. You can not get rabies just by touching or being near an animal with rabies.
What should I do if an animal bites me?
If you are bitten by a wild or unfamiliar animal, you should immediately wash and scrub the bite area with soap and running water and seek medical care from a doctor or healthcare provider. A doctor will treat the wound and decide if you need treatment to prevent rabies.
To report an Animal bite, you MUST contact:
- Your primary care doctor
- Amador County Animal Control-209-223-6378
- Amador County Public Health-209-223-6407
Each department will work with you to document your animal encounter and work to keep everyone in the community safe from Rabies.
Rabies Prevention
Because there is no treatment for rabies once symptoms begin, it is very important to prevent rabies in the first place. To prevent rabies:
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Vaccinate pets against the rabies virus and keep them up to date on their shots
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Prevent bites from animals, especially wild or unfamiliar animals
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Wash animal bite wounds immediately with soap and water
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Talk to a healthcare provider right away if you are bitten by an animal. A doctor can help decide if you need a vaccine to prevent rabies.
Additional Resources
Rabies Resources at California Department of Public Health
Rabies Prevention Education Sheet
AMADOR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH | 209-223-6407 | Together we can build a healthier community
@amadorcountypublichealth