This is an urgent alert to Veterans who served recently in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Get evaluated for rabies immediately if you were bitten by or exposed to the saliva of a warm-blooded animal, such as a dog, cat or bat, while deployed there in the previous 18 months. The risk of being exposed to rabies is much higher in countries where domestic animals are not vaccinated against rabies. The VA is asking Veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan and possibly exposed to rabies there in the previous 18 months to contact their health care provider immediately for an evaluation.