For a person bitten, scratched or exposed to saliva
- Immediately wash bites and scratches thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, following WHO guidance. If saliva enters the eyes or mouth, rinse well with clean water; do not put soap or disinfectant in the eyes.
- Go promptly to the nearest government hospital or a qualified medical practitioner for a rabies risk assessment. Saliva on broken skin, the eyes or the mouth also needs urgent assessment, even without a bite.
- Bring the animal’s vaccination record and your own past rabies vaccination details if readily available, but do not delay seeking care to find them or to catch the animal.
- Do not wait for symptoms, a change in the animal’s behaviour or a laboratory result. Do not apply irritants or home remedies to the wound.
Why this matters in Sri Lanka
Rabies prevention remains important locally. WHO’s September 2026 Sri Lanka update reported 14 laboratory-confirmed human rabies deaths and 346 reported animal cases in 2025. These are dated national reports, not a measure of the risk from one particular bite. The practical message is to keep pets vaccinated, prevent unsafe contact and get prompt medical assessment after a possible exposure, including when the animal is familiar.
What happens at the hospital?
The medical team assesses the contact, wound, animal history and any previous human rabies vaccination. Post-exposure care may include a vaccine course and, when indicated, rabies immunoglobulin or another recommended product. The team also assesses the wound and other care needs. Follow the prescribed dates and complete the course. Previous vaccination does not remove the need for assessment after a new exposure. Do not stop treatment yourself because the animal seems well.
Can you recognise rabies by looking at an animal?
Changes can include unusual aggression or withdrawal, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, weakness or paralysis. Not every affected animal is aggressive or visibly foaming at the mouth, and other illnesses can cause similar signs. Do not attempt to examine the mouth, hand-feed, capture or restrain a suspect animal. Keep children and other animals away and contact a veterinarian and the local public-health team for safe instructions.
If your dog or cat is bitten
Contact a veterinarian promptly, even if your pet is vaccinated. Avoid direct contact with saliva and bite wounds. Explain when the incident happened, what animal was involved and your pet’s vaccination history. Call before transporting an animal suspected of rabies. The vet and relevant authorities will advise safe separation, any vaccination needed and monitoring. Anyone whose broken skin or eyes or mouth contacted saliva should also seek medical assessment.
Observation is not a reason to delay human care
Sri Lankan guidance uses a 14-day observation period for the biting animal under professional instructions. This is separate from the management of a pet exposed to another animal. Follow the hospital and public-health team’s directions, and immediately report illness, death or disappearance of the animal. Never delay initial medical care while observing it. If it dies, do not handle the body or collect samples yourself; seek official instructions for safe testing.
Everyday prevention and common questions
- Keep dog and cat vaccination records accessible and ask your vet for the due dates. Sri Lanka’s Epidemiology Unit recommends annual dog rabies vaccination; agree your pet’s schedule with the vet.
- Supervise pets and teach children to avoid unfamiliar animals and not disturb animals while eating, sleeping or caring for young.
- Does a small scratch matter? It can. A medical professional should assess the exposure rather than judging only by wound size.
- Does a vaccinated pet make a bite automatically safe? No. Bring its record, but let the medical team assess the person’s need for care.
General education for dogs and cats; not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.