Rabbits and rodents, including squirrels, are seldom infected with rabies. Worldwide, people most commonly are infected with rabies through bites from unvaccinated dogs. On the east coast of this country, where canine rabies has been controlled, the main source of infection is wildlife or cat bites. Though rabies is most often transmitted by a bite from an infected animal it can also be spread through contact of an animal's saliva with an open wound. Animals can harbor and transmit the rabies virus long before the animal itself shows signs of illness.
Rabies is almost always fatal.
Vaccination of pet cats and dogs is imperative to keep the disease from spreading both to humans and to other animals. If you are bitten by a cat or dog, check with the owner to make sure the animal's rabies vaccine is current. Most states require that, regardless of their vaccination status, the dog or cat be quarantined for a number of days to double-check for signs of rabies. In the case of a bite by a wild animal, a rabies vaccine should be administered as a precaution. To try to prevent infection after a bite, clean the wound immediately with a strong jet of water, soap or detergent, and a solution of alcohol or iodine.