Rabies

Rabies is a serious, but preventable disease that affects the brain and nervous system. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear—but it can be prevented with quick medical treatment after exposure.

Rabies is most commonly spread to people through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. It can also be transmitted if saliva from a rabid animal gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a fresh wound.

In our area bats are the most common animals that carry rabies. Unvaccinated pets and stray animals can also carry the virus.

• Make sure your animals or pets are up-to-date with their vaccines.
• Never touch or feed wild animals or stray pets.
• If you see an animal acting strangely (e.g., unusually aggressive or tame, drooling, stumbling), stay away. If needed, call Missoula Animal Services at 406-541-7387.
• Promptly report any potential exposure to Missoula Public Health or Missoula Animal Services.

Wash the Wound Immediately

• Wash the bite or scratch right away with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
• This helps reduce the risk of infection.

Seek Medical Attention Right Away

• Contact a doctor or visit an urgent care or emergency room—even if the bite or scratch seems small.
• A healthcare provider can determine if you need post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a series of shots that prevent rabies from developing.

Report the Exposure

• If the animal is a pet, try to get contact information for the owner.
  • Dogs, cats, and ferrets that bite or scratch a person can be quarantined for 10 days under the guidance of Missoula Animals Services. Call Animal Services at 406-541-7387.
• If the animal is a bat you may need treatment even if there is no obvious bite. Please call your provider or Missoula Public Health for information and help. To contact our Infectious Disease team, please call 406-258-3896.
  • When possible and if safe to do so, capture the bat so it can be tested for rabies. To capture the bat: 
    • Do not touch the bat with your bare hands. 
    • Do not smash the bat to kill it. The bat’s brain needs to be intact for testing. 
    • Put a box or container around the bat to capture it. 
    • The bat can be stored in a refrigerator. Do not put it in a freezer. 
    • Animal Control may also be able to help capture the bat. Please contact us at 406-541-7387.

RPEP is not automatically indicated for every bite, scratch, or animal contact. Risk varies by:

• Animal species
• Behavior and health of the animal
• Whether the exposure was provoked or unprovoked
• Availability of the animal for observation or testing

Please assess the risk carefully before initiating prophylaxis. Medical providers are welcome to contact Missoula Animal Services to ask if the animal is available for observation or testing. Missoula Animal Services may know the location of the animal or have it quarantined. 

We urge all providers to report possible rabies exposures promptly to Missoula Public Health Infectious Disease Department at 406-258-3896. If it is a cat, dog, ferret or other domestic animal, please reach out to Missoula Animal Services at 406-541-7387.

Missoula Public Health can:

• Assess whether the exposure meets criteria for RPEP
• Coordinate testing or observation (10 days under the guidance of Animal Services Officers) of the animal (especially for domestic dogs, cats, or ferrets)
• Help reduce unnecessary treatments in low- or no-risk situations

Early reporting is key to avoiding inappropriate use of RPEP and ensuring a timely public health response.

Rabies from bat exposures is a leading cause of human rabies deaths in the U.S.

RPEP may be recommended if:

• There is a known bite or direct contact with a bat
• A bat is found in the room with someone who was asleep, unattended, a child, or cognitively impaired

If the bat is available, testing can be done at Missoula Vet Clinic. If not, the decision for RPEP should be based on exposure risk-please contact Missoula Public Health for consult.

• CDC Rabies Guidelines
• MT DPHHS Rabies Risk Assessment Tool