Outlook

If you get timely, appropriate wound care and rabies shots, you will be virtually 100% protected against rabies.

• To date, there have been no failures of this treatment in the United States.

• Failures overseas, however, have occurred despite seeking medical care after exposure because doctors either failed to give wound care, did not inject the immune globulin around the bite or wound site, or did not give the vaccine in the correct spot (for example, vaccine was given in the buttocks).