There is no known cure for symptomatic rabies, but it can be prevented by vaccination, both in humans and other animals.
- Individuals who are in high-risk occupations (veterinarians, wildlife workers/rehabilitators, animal control personnel, and rabies laboratory workers) should be immunized with rabies vaccine prior to exposure. In some circumstances, international travelers should also be immunized against rabies prior to travel.
- The second way rabies can be prevented is by vaccination after an exposure has occurred but before symptoms develop (post-exposure prophylaxis). It consists of 1 shot of immune serum given the first day of treatment and 5 shots of vaccine given over a period of 1 month. The serum is infiltrated around the wound, and the vaccine is given in the arm. Post-exposure prophylaxis, when given properly, has been extremely effective in preventing rabies in humans bitten by known rabid animals.