A bite is an emergency. Rabies is preventable.
Wash the wound, get to the RHU the same day, and finish every vaccine dose. That is what keeps a bite from becoming a rabies death.
Soap and running water
After a bite: four things, in this order
Do not wait to see if the animal gets sick, and do not use home remedies on the wound.
- 1Right away
Wash the wound
Soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Do this before anything else, even if it looks minor.
- 2Same day
Go to the RHU
Same day, not “when symptoms show”. Tell the staff which animal it was and whether it is still alive.
- 3At the RHU
Get assessed
The doctor classifies the exposure (Category I, II or III) and decides on the vaccine and, for severe bites, immunoglobulin.
- 4On schedule
Finish every dose
Come back on each scheduled day. A skipped dose leaves the series incomplete.
Your vaccine schedule
Four doses over 28 days. Three come in the first week, so the early visits matter most.
First dose, on the day of your first visit.
Second dose, three days after the first.
Third dose, one week after the first.
Final dose. Do not skip it.
Prevent the bite in the first place
Most human rabies in the Philippines comes from dog bites, so what happens at home matters.
Vaccinate your pets every year
Dogs and cats need a yearly anti-rabies shot. It protects the animal and everyone around it.
Keep pets leashed and fenced
Do not let dogs roam. Roaming pets meet strays and bite more often.
Stay away from strays
Do not pet, feed or corner an unfamiliar animal, even a friendly-looking one.
Teach children early
No teasing, no touching animals that are eating, sleeping or caring for puppies.
Report stray or biting animals
Tell your barangay or the RHU. Do not try to catch a suspected rabid animal yourself.
Watch the animal that bit
If it can be safely observed, tell the RHU what happens to it. This helps the doctor decide.
How serious was the exposure?
The RHU doctor decides the category after examining you. This is what each one usually means.
Touching or feeding an animal
Licks on unbroken skin. No wound.
Nibbling or minor scratches
Skin is scratched or nibbled but there is no bleeding.
Bites or scratches that bleed
Licks on broken skin, contact with a bat, or bleeding wounds.
Only a health worker can classify an exposure. When unsure, treat it as an emergency and go to the RHU.