Rabies Exposure Risk Assessment
Answer 8 questions about your exposure. We'll tell you how urgent the situation is and what to do next. Your answers stay in your browser — nothing is sent to our servers.
Answer the questions below
Select Yes or No for each question
Did a bite break the skin?
Any puncture, tear, or abrasion caused by an animal's teeth
Did a scratch break the skin?
Claw or nail scratch deep enough to draw blood or open the skin
Did animal saliva touch your eyes, mouth, nose, or an open wound?
Lick on a cut, mucous membrane contact, or splash into the eye
Was a bat found in a room where someone was sleeping?
Bat bites can be painless and unnoticed — this is treated as a possible exposure
Was the animal wild, stray, unknown, or acting strangely?
Raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats, stray dogs or cats, or any animal behaving abnormally
Is the animal unavailable for observation or testing?
Ran away, could not be captured, or was not brought to a vet
Was it a vaccinated dog, cat, or ferret whose owner can confirm vaccination?
Vaccination records available and animal is currently under observation
Did the exposure happen outside the United States?
Rabies risk varies significantly by country — higher risk in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America
What to do after a possible rabies exposure
Wash the wound immediately
Soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. This is the single most effective first aid step.
Do not wait for symptoms
Rabies symptoms appear only after the virus reaches the brain — by then it is too late to prevent. Act now.
Seek medical evaluation
A doctor or public health authority decides whether PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is needed for your situation.
Complete the full course of PEP if recommended
PEP is a series of shots over 14 days. Stopping early reduces its effectiveness.
This tool does not replace medical advice
The risk level shown is based on general guidance from the CDC and WHO. Only a licensed healthcare professional or public health authority can confirm whether you need PEP. When in doubt, seek care — it is always better to ask than to wait.