Torbay Council

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Rabies

Rabies is an infectious disease of animals.

Man is occasionally infected, and once infection is established the outcome is almost invariably fatal. Rabies is acquired from virus in saliva entering a bite wound caused by an infected animal, usually a rabid dog. The severity of the bite determines the risk of infection. The disease does not usually spread from man to man.

Animals rabies is very similar to human rabies. In the stage of excitement the animal may bite vigorously and viciously at anything: sticks, stones, grass, other animals and humans, without provocation. Wild animals may be abnormally tame or appear sick - beware of approaching or picking up such an animal ("dumb rabies").

More information can be found on the Defra: Rabies opens in a new window

website.