What is a Rabies Exposure?

Determining whether a given situation constitutes an exposure can be difficult. The scenarios below can help providers understand what constitutes an exposure.

• A bite from an animal (mammal) to a human
• Saliva/neural tissue contact from an animal to a human’s open cut or mucous membrane
• A bat found in the same room with a sleeping person, an unattended child, an intoxicated person, or anyone unable to confirm that they were NOT bitten.
• Access additional resources that can assist in medical assessment for human rabies post exposure prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

What is not an exposure?

Other contact, such as contact with blood, urine, skunk spray, or feces, does not constitute an exposure and is not an indication for prophylaxis.