r/rabies • u/BradyStewart777 • Jan 15 '25
Many people come here worried that they have rabies. This post is here to show you that you do NOT have rabies. Rabies is VERY rare, and if you had a real risk of exposure (based on multiple factors, such as the country / region, type of exposure, your vaccination status, the species of the animal, the country guidelines, and more), you would need to seek immediate medical attention NOT post on Reddit.
If you have general health concerns, there are proper steps to take but panic driven posts such as âI have rabiesâ or âIâm dyingâ without any basis are automatically removed.
The incubation period is the time period from initial exposure to the onset of symptoms. The rabies virus has an average incubation period of 20-90 days, or about one to three months. But this can vary from as little as one week to as long as one year. Very rarely will it ever go beyond that. There is no reason to be worried about such long incubation periods. Most end before 6 months. The timeframe, however, does depends on several factors (e.g., the location of the bite and the viral load).
If you have not been directly BITTEN or SCRATCHED by a wild or confirmed unvaccinated mammal that you either cannot observe for 10-14 days or has mysteriously disappeared before 10-14 days then itâs practically certain that you are not infected. Your symptoms are very likely caused by something else entirely. However, we cannot accurately diagnose you with a disease or condition here. Only an in-person physician can reliably diagnose you. For verified medical advice, you can visit r/AskDocs to receive verified medical input. Physicians there are labeled and verified. But this still should not replace an in-person medical professional.
The virus travels through the peripheral nervous system as it moves up your body. During this period, you remain completely asymptomatic. This is the incubation phase. Symptoms of rabies only emerge once the virus reaches the central nervous system (particularly the brain), not the peripheral nervous system or any other part of the body. Rabies, being a Lyssavirus, is neurotropic. It is specifically attracted to and targets neural tissue. You CANNOT get rabies from casual surface contact, blood, seminal or vaginal fluids, skunk spray. The ONLY bodily mammalian fluids that can spread rabies are infected saliva, neural (brain+spinal) tissue, and (rarely) tears.
Neurological symptoms of rabies manifest in two primary forms: either furious or paralytic. Encephalitic rabies symptoms may come and go with periods of calm in between (furious episodes). [â]
Note: This is NOT the same thing as cycling between flulike symptoms and suddenly feeling better. During an active encephalitic rabies infection, furious episodes are interludes of severe neurological disturbance, such as agitation, confusion, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and characteristic spasms or difficulty swallowing, followed by temporary periods of relative calm or reduced agitation.
The main difference between furious rabid episodes and actually feeling better is that the âcalmâ phase of an active rabies infection isnât actually a sign of getting better. The patient has simply calmed down temporarily but will still inevitably die.
The disappearance of symptoms of common diseases like the flu, COVID-19, and the common cold are usually a sign that you ARE getting better.
Encephalitic rabies is the more dramatic and recognized form. It causes severe neurological dysfunction and hyperactivity. The virus takes hold of the central nervous system and leads to extreme alterations in behavior, heightened responses to stimuli, and a progressive loss of control over cognitive and motor functions. This variant occurs in about 70-80% of cases. Symptoms of encephalitic rabies include:
Encephalitic rabies usually progresses from the earliest symptoms to death within seven to ten days on average.
Dumb (paralytic) rabies is the less common variant of rabies. Instead of the well-known signs most people associate with the disease, it progresses more quietly but is just as deadly.
Symptoms of dumb rabies include:
Death from dumb rabies generally occurs within seven to eleven days after symptom onset, though it can range from a few days to several weeks or more.
Symptoms of rabies and the order in which they appear can vary from person to person, and not all listed symptoms may appear in every case. The progression and presentation of the disease can differ based on the individual.
Just because your throat hurts does NOT mean you have rabies. A sore throat is something everybody experiences every once in a while, whether from a cold, allergies, or even just talking too much. If you had rabies, you wouldn't be sitting here worrying about a little throat irritation.
When rabies reaches the stage where swallowing becomes an issue, it is NOT a mild soreness. Patients with rabies develop hydrophobia (an extreme fear of water), because even the thought of drinking causes their throat muscles to spasm violently. They choke, gasp, and struggle just to swallow their own saliva. Some patients shake uncontrollably at the sight of a glass of water. It's a sign that their bodies are physically rejecting what their minds know they need. The pain from a sore throat is no where close to what these patients go through. There is no relief. Their own saliva builds up because they cannot swallow. It forces them to salivate uncontrollably.
Here are some videos of real patients suffering from hydrophobia. You can see firsthand what they go through. You can see the way their bodies violently resist even a drop of water. THIS is what (encephalitic) rabies looks like. If you believe a mild sore throat is anything like this, you'd be mistaken.
Here are the links:
All of these are NSFW.
[1]. Video 1: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[2]. Video 2: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[3]. Video 3: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[4]. Video 4: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[5]. Video 5: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[6]. Video 6: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[7]. Video 7: Rabies Hydrophobia.
You can find a lot more by searching ârabies hydrophobiaâ on YouTube. If you're someone who gets disturbed easily or has OCD, then SKIP them. Watching those videos will do you nothing but harm.
The section below goes through common symptoms that people may notice and mistakenly associate with rabies. Many of these symptoms have multiple ordinary explanations and, by themselves, CANNOT establish that you have rabies. The important distinction is between nonspecific symptoms and the neurological dysfunction associated with symptomatic rabies. Most importantly, rabies risk should be assessed based on whether a credible exposure actually occurred (NOT by repeatedly comparing yourself to a symptom checklist).
Paresthesia is the medical term for abnormal sensations such as tingling, pins and needles, prickling, burning, numbness, or a feeling that part of your body is âasleep.â This a very common symptom with a long list of causes⌠many of which have NOTHING to do with rabies. For example, temporary tingling can occur when you put pressure on a nerve, sit or sleep in an awkward position, or temporarily reduce circulation to part of your body. Anxiety and rapid breathing can also produce tingling sensations, particularly in the hands, feet, face, or around the mouth. Other possible causes include nerve irritation or compression, certain vitamin deficiencies, migraines, medications, diabetes, and numerous other neurological or circulatory conditions.
This phenomenon, by itself, is not a diagnosis of rabies. Even experiencing an unusual sensation does not automatically mean that an infection is affecting your nervous system. The symptom has to be considered in the context of the person's overall clinical condition and, most importantly when rabies is the concern, whether an actual exposure occurred.
Because paresthesia is a nonspecific symptom shared by many conditions, and its presence alone tells you very little about the underlying cause, any medical concerns you have regarding this symptom should be addressed between you and your medical department.
Feeling tired can result from insufficient sleep, illness, stress, dehydration, nutritional issues, or simply having an unusually demanding day. Fatigue alone is NOT evidence of rabies. Everyone feels fatigued at some point in their life. This is nothing to worry about in regard to rabies. In terms of general medical concerns about fatigue, this should be directed to a verified physician, preferably in-person, but r/AskDocs is also a reliable place.
Anxiety, acid reflux, allergies, postnasal drainage, viral infections, throat irritation, and other ordinary conditions can all produce unusual sensations in the throat. A persistent feeling that something is stuck in your throat can also be called globus sensation which can occur even when there is nothing physically blocking the throat. We must distinguish THIS from actual difficulty swallowing. Feeling like your throat is tight is NOT the same thing as being unable to swallow. Feeling a lump is NOT the same thing as your swallowing muscles failing to work. Having a dry or irritated throat is NOT the same thing as developing the neurological swallowing dysfunction associated with symptomatic rabies.
In clinical rabies, swallowing problems occur as part of a severe neurological illness, commonly alongside other neurological abnormalities. The CDC identifies dysphagia, hydrophobia, progressive neurological dysfunction, and other serious neurological signs as important clinical features. Rabies is also an EXTREMELY RARE disease in the United States.
If you can normally eat, drink, and swallow, but your throat simply feels strange, tight, dry, irritated, or like there is something stuck in it then that sensation should NOT be interpreted as evidence that you have rabies. There are many much more common explanations for those sensations. When you are frightened about rabies, you probably repeatedly check your throat, swallow deliberately, tense your muscles, or pay unusually close attention to every sensation. That increased attention can make an otherwise minor sensation feel much more prominent. The sensation is real but its presence does NOTHING to tell you what caused it. Common illnesses can also irritate the throat. Colds, influenza, COVID-19, allergies, and postnasal drainage are all recognized causes of throat irritation or sore throat. Acid reflux can also reach the throat and produce symptoms such as a lump sensation, throat clearing, mucus, coughing, or chronic throat irritation.
If you have to take ONE lesson from this post, itâs this: Do NOT use the presence of a strange throat sensation as a rabies test. The appropriate question is whether there was a genuine rabies exposure that requires medical assessment.
Sweating and chills are nonspecific symptoms and, by themselves, are NOT evidence of rabies. They are common responses to many ordinary situations, including fever, anxiety, stress, physical exertion, changes in body temperature, dehydration, and a wide variety of infections. Chills are common when your body temperature is rising during a fever. You may feel unusually cold, shiver, or want to bundle up even though your actual body temperature is elevated. Sweating can occur as your body attempts to regulate its temperature, particularly as a fever begins to come down. Common illnesses such as the common cold, influenza, and COVID-19 can produce combinations of fever, chills, sweating, fatigue, headache, body aches, and other symptoms.
Anxiety can also produce sweating, shaking, chills, a racing heartbeat, and other physical sensations. When you are intensely focused on the possibility of having rabies, it is very easy to notice these sensations and interpret them as evidence that something is seriously wrong. A symptom becoming noticeable while you are worried about rabies does not make that symptom a sign of rabies. There is nothing uniquely rabies specific about sweating or chills. You should not use either symptom as a way to diagnose yourself. What matters when evaluating rabies risk is whether you experienced a credible exposure, such as an appropriate bite, scratch, or other recognized exposure involving a potentially infected mammal. If you ONLY have chills, sweating, or a fever without reasonable suspicion of rabies exposure, there are multiple other possible explanations that should be considered first.
Nope. This is NOT the same as the impending sense of doom or dread caused by rabies. That phenomenon is specifically caused by rabies infecting the amygdala (the center of fear and anxiety in the brain). This feeling can also, vastly more commonly, occur during panic attacks and health anxiety. The feeling can be convincing without identifying the underlying illness. Instead of trying to diagnose yourself from individual symptoms, focus on whether there was an actual exposure that warrants rabies evaluation. Was there? For practically everyone reading this post, [more than] nine times out of ten, the answer is no. More information can be found in the Rabies FAQ.
Difficulty sleeping can occur because of stress, anxiety, caffeine, illness, changes in schedule, or many other reasons. Being awake and repeatedly checking your body for symptoms can, itself, make it harder to sleep. This is NOT an automatic sign of rabies, though it is a common symptom. Your chances of insomnia being caused by an active rabies infection is EXTREMELY UNLIKELY, especially if you live in countries like the United States and regions like Western Europe.
There are many possible causes and most are harmless. Common triggers include dehydration, hunger, fatigue, stress, eyestrain, poor posture, allergies, caffeine withdrawal, and even weather changes. You could try drinking water, eating a snack, taking a nap, or resting in a quiet, dark room. Stretching, deep breathing, or a warm compress on your neck can help if the headache is tension related.
There are lots of possible causes and most are probably not serious. The flu, common cold, mild viral infections, dehydration, lack of sleep, and even seasonal allergies can all cause symptoms like fatigue, body aches, chills, fever, sore throat, cough, congestion, or headaches. In most cases, symptoms improve with time and rest.
See if you can safely take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with fever, aches, or discomfort. Speak with your pharmacist if you're unsure. You can drink fluids, eat nutritious foods and allow your body time to recover. Getting enough rest and avoiding stress can also be beneficial.
If symptoms persist for several days, worsen, or become severe, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, a persistent high fever, or confusion, you should seek medical attention. Reddit is not a replacement for a real physician. Online opinions can provide guidance, but only your healthcare providers can properly evaluate your symptoms. If you start feeling better, chances are you most likely fine.
Nausea and vomiting can happen for many reasons. Some of the most frequent causes include food poisoning, stomach viruses, motion sickness, pregnancy, medication side effects, overeating, alcohol, or stress and anxiety.
Other causes may include migraines and other medical conditions such as acid reflux or gallbladder issues.
In most cases nausea and vomiting are short lived and improve with time and rest. If you're experiencing these symptoms, try to stay hydrated. You can try drinking small amounts of water, oral rehydration solutions, clear broths, or electrolyte drinks throughout the day. You should generally avoid gulping large amounts at once (that may worsen the nausea).
Once the vomiting dies down, you can start with bland easy to digest foods like crackers, toast, rice, bananas, applesauce, or plain chicken. You should avoid dairy, greasy, spicy, or heavy foods until you're fully recovered. Rest in a quiet environment and avoid strong smells or motion, which can make nausea worse.
Over the counter anti nausea medications may help in some cases, but check with a pharmacist or physician before taking anything. Especially if you're under 18, pregnant, or on other medications.
If the vomiting doesn't stop after a day or two, becomes severe, contains blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds, or is accompanied by confusion, a high fever, stiff neck, severe abdominal pain, or signs of dehydration (such as dry mouth, dark urine, dizziness, or low urine output), you should consult a physician. Persistent vomiting can lead to complications like dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Temporary blurred vision can come from eyestrain, dry eyes, fatigue or even dehydration. Red flag symptoms include sudden severe or persistent vision changes (especially in one eye or with pain), which may be signs of more serious condition like a retinal issue, stroke, or migraine aura. If your symptoms become, in anyway, severe, consult a physician.
Feeling dizzy can come from dehydration, low blood sugar, anxiety, fatigue, or standing up too fast. It is often harmless and goes away with rest and hydration.
You should consult a medical professional if your symptoms are persistent, frequent or come with fainting, vision changes, chest pain or weakness.
If you have a medical question or are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above after being bitten, scratched, or coming into direct contact with a bat, or if you had saliva or neural tissue from an unknown animal come into contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, or an open wound weeks to months earlier, you should consult a physician immediately. As a side-note, here are some resources about rabies! Rabies by the CDC, Rabies WHO, Rabies American Veterinary Medical Association, Rabies by Mayo Clinic.
If you're in the United States, here is a portal to find your local health department. A physician can evaluate your symptoms properly and give you reliable answers in person.
If you have questions about a potential exposure, you can see our rabies FAQ that answers common questions from people. If you have questions about things like thinking you saw a bat, worrying a bat might have bitten you mid-flight without you noticing, waking up with mysterious marks, when the 10-day observation protocol applies to animals like dogs, cats, or ferrets, or what it means if you received post-exposure rabies vaccines without HRIG or ERIG. Those questions are addressed and answered in the post linked above.
It should be made absolutely clear that this post is NOT something you should use to diagnose yourself. It exists solely to show that the symptoms you may be experiencing can be caused by a wide range of things. Some harmless, some more serious, and not automatically something like rabies.
If you're concerned about your health, don't rely on posts like this or random internet opinions. Consult a medical professional.
Only your healthcare providers can give you the reliable information and answers you need.
r/rabies • u/SchrodingersMinou • May 22 '24
Before you post a question to this subreddit, please read the following points. I know, it's a lot to read, but 99% of you will get answers to your questions here. Try actually reading the FAQ before posting "I have read the FAQ."
These answers contain information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO). This is not a substitute for real medical advice from a medical professional! The mods are wildlife nerds, not doctors or infectious disease specialists. If you want to talk to an expert, you are in the wrong place.
Ask your doctor or health authority for medical advice. Most places have rabies hotlines, staffed 24 hours, with medical professionals who can answer your questions. Search for your city, county, state, or country + "rabies hotline." If you are in the USA, here is a portal to help you find your state/local health department. Here is a portal for Canadians to find your local public health unit.
Yes, there is conflicting information on the internet. No, we don't know why someone said something different somewhere else. If you need medical advice, ask your doctor or call a rabies hotline.
1. Is this a bat bite?
Bat bites cannot be identified from a photo. No one, not even a doctor or a bat biologist, can identify a bat bite from a photo. The best way to identify a bat bite is to check whether you remember a bat landing on you and biting you there. If you think you might have a bat bite, ask yourself: Do you remember a bat biting you? Have you seen a bat in your home? Did you sleep outdoors where a bat might have bitten you? Did you pick up a bat in your hand? If you answer no, it's HIGHLY UNLIKELY you were bitten by a bat. Again, bat bites cannot be identified from a photo.
2. Can I get rabies from interacting with an animal? Can I get rabies from touching something? Can I get rabies from a dead animal, or a vaccinated pet? What about if a drop of liquid falls on me? Can I get rabies from contaminated food or water? Can I get rabies from a person? What about anything else that does not involve a physical attack from a rabid animal?
No. YOU CAN ONLY GET RABIES VIA DIRECT CONTACT WITH A RABID ANIMAL. This means being bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. Rabies is transmitted via the saliva of an infected animal in the late stages of the disease, when the virus is being shed in the saliva by the host animal. You canât get rabies from touching something a rabid animal touched. You canât get rabies from your pet meeting a rabid animal and then bringing it home to you. You canât get rabies from touching dead animals or live animals. You canât get rabies from something falling on you. You canât get rabies from touching, kissing, or having sex with a person. You can't get rabies from a person or animal who has been vaccinated. You canât get rabies from touching something wet. You canât get rabies from touching anything whatsoever, even if you have a cut on your body or you touch your eye/nose/mouth afterwards. You can't get rabies from eating something an animal touched or licked. You CAN get rabies from eating the raw meat of a rabid animal, like a rabid dog. Getting rabies from an exposure to the eye/nose/mouth is theoretically possible, but this has never happened to anyone in recorded history.
3. I found a suspicious mark on my body but I didn't see or feel a bat touch me and I didnât find a bat in my house. Did a bat bite me while I was walking outside, and I just didn't notice it? Did a bat sneak into my house to bite me and then sneak back out?
Bats are NOT invisible or ninjas. Finding a little mark on your body is not a rabies exposure. If a bat gets in your house, you WILL see it. They are not good at finding their way out on their own. If a bat bites you, you WILL see and feel it. A sober, alert, adult human WILL notice being bitten by a bat. Finding little marks on your body is not unusual. This is not a reason to assume an invisible bat attacked you.
4. I saw or heard a bat near me. Or I touched a bat. Or I found a bat in my house. Did a bat bite or scratch me without me noticing?
Bats cannot fly past you and bite you in mid-flight. That is physically impossible. A bat must LAND on you, hold on to you with their tiny fingers, and then bite you. After biting you, they must then push off of you to take flight again. Bats can be small, but they're not invisible or imperceptible. You would notice a big bug landing on you and biting you, and you would notice a bat doing it too. Bats can't scratch you in midflight because how their claws are shaped. That's not a thing. If a bat crashes into you and makes physical contact with you, there is a possibility that it may have scratched you, and rabies shots are recommended unless you are in a country free of bat rabies. If you wake up and find a bat in your house or other place you were sleeping, and you are not in a country free of bat rabies, you should catch it and submit it for rabies testing; if you canât do that, or if you have small children in the house, rabies shots are recommended because it may have bitten you while you were sleeping.
5. An animal touched me, licked me, or sneezed on me. Could I get rabies from this?
You cannot get rabies from a wound that doesnât break the skin. Rabies can only get into your body through an opening in your body: a scratch or bite. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, you should wash the area with soap and water for 5 minutes. If it does not bleed at all, you may or may not not have broken the skin. You can test this by putting alcohol on the abrasion to see if it stings.
6. Can I get rabies from an animal that has current rabies vaccinations? Can my pet get rabies if it has current rabies vaccinations?
No. Animals with current rabies shots cannot catch or transmit rabies. If you are bitten or scratched by someoneâs pet, ask the owner for proof of rabies vaccination, like a rabies tag on the collar. Take a photo or copy of these records and call their vet to verify them. If the shots are current, you're not at risk of rabies infection. If the pet owner cannot provide this proof of vaccination, contact your animal control department or rabies management / health department to file a bite report.
7. Can I get rabies from my pet, or from a friend or neighborâs pet, that doesn't have current rabies shots?
Only animals that have been bitten or scratched by other animals can have rabies. Your pet doesn't have rabies if it was never attacked by another animal (see FAQ 2). Rabies isn't something that all animals have.
You may not need to get rabies shots if you can observe the animal that attacked you for two weeks. If you are bitten or scratched by a pet that is not vaccinated for rabies, the standard protocol is to quarantine the animal in an animal shelter or veterinarian's office for 10-14 days. If you were attacked by someone elseâs pet and that is not possible, you can observe the animal for 10-14 days. If it doesnât get sick and/or die of rabies, then you are not at risk of rabies and do not need rabies shots. If the animal is healthy in 10-14 days, IT DOES NOT HAVE RABIES and neither do you. Since most animals in the late stages of rabies typically die in about 48 hours, this is a very cautious timeframe to observe.
8. Can I get rabies from a bug, bird, snake, or frog? Can I get rabies from a possum, or a rat or mouse?
No. Only mammals (furry animals) can carry rabies. Reptiles, amphibians, insects, and birds canât carry rabies. Bats are one of the most common rabies carriers in the US, although less than half of 1% of all bats will ever get rabies. In the USA, the next most common species are raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Outside of the USA, dogs, cats, and other animals have been known to spread the rabies virus. The least common mammals include Virginia opossums, rodents (rats and mice), rabbits or hares, and squirrels. Globally, the #1 risk of rabies is dog bites.
9. Is there a risk of rabies in my area? Can I get rabies in India, or the UK?
To learn about rabies statistics for your area, Google your state or country's name and the phrase 'current rabies statistics'. These websites will tell you how many rabid animals have been found in your area and what species. They should also tell you who to call to report a bite. Some parts of the world are rabies-free and there is no rabies or risk of rabies infection. The UK (and most of western Europe) is free of rabies in most animals except for bats, which is rare. India has a high rabies risk which is mostly from dogs.
10. I was vaccinated for rabies. Does that mean I am protected for life and will never need booster shots? Will I need to get booster shots every single time I get attacked by an animal?
No. Previously vaccinated people still get boosters if they are re-exposed to rabies. Your rabies titer can be high for a few months or for many years, but it is assumed that you are protected for at least three months after getting rabies shots. According to the WHO, if you are bitten by animal and it has been LESS than 90 days since your last shot, you donât need to do anything. This applies to ANY rabies shot. If it has been MORE than 90 days since your last rabies shot, you would still need post-exposure booster shots IF you are directly exposed to an animal that could be rabid. You do not need to go through the entire series of shots again; you only need booster shots. Note that the CDC in the US does not follow the WHO guidance on this and recommends boosters after every re-exposure, no matter when it happens.
¡ For more information about rabies and rabies shots, see the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html
¡ If you are in the USA here is a link to the state and local rabies contacts. USA State & Local Rabies Contacts
11. I was vaccinated for rabies but I did not receive immunogloblin (HRIG/ERIG). Why? Is that OK?
RIG is sometimes not given if there is no visible wound or if you were bitten/scratched in a location that is hard to inject. For instance, it would be hard to inject RIG into your ear. If you have no visible wound, then there is no way to tell where RIG should be injected. RIG is also not given with booster shots if you have ever been previously vaccinated. If you have more questions about this, ASK YOUR DOCTOR.
12. I got rabies shots but I have questions about the specific medical care I received. Why did the doctor give me the care I received? Iâm immunocompromised; do I need extra shots? Will my medication interact with the vaccine?
Ask your doctor questions about the specific medical care you received. People on the internet cannot answer those questions. A doctorâs job is to treat patients and explain their care to them so it is OK to ask follow-up questions even after you leave the office.
13. I waited a long time before I got rabies shots. Or I drank alcohol after I got vaccinated, or I took medication. Or a doctor gave me tetanus shots at the same time. Or I ate some type of food. Or I consumed any other substance in some way that is not serious immunosuppressive therapy. Will the rabies shots still work?
Yes. Rabies vaccines are 100% effective if you get them before the virus reaches your brain and symptoms start, which usually takes 3 weeks to one year. For more info about symptoms, see FAQ #17. If you have more questions about your medical treatment, ASK YOUR DOCTOR.
14. I am in a country that is not the US, or I am traveling. Why did doctors in my country give me a different schedule of shots than the ones recommended by the CDC or the WHO? Why did doctors in two different countries tell me two different shot schedules? Will the shots work?
Yes. Rabies protocols vary by country. The CDC guidance is specific to the USA, and the WHO guidance is a recommendation for all countries. Some countries give different numbers of shots on different days. That is OK. The schedules all work as long as you stick to them and finish the series. To find more information about a countryâs rabies shot schedule, google the name of the country + rabies vaccination + regimen or protocol or schedule.
15. I was attacked by an animal a long time ago but I never got rabies shots. Could I get rabies from that? How long does it take to develop symptoms?
The incubation period for rabies is typically 2â3 months but may vary from 1 week to 1 year. Bites on the hands or feet have longer incubation periods than bites on the neck or face, and bites from a scratch have longer incubation periods than deep bites. Extremely rare cases of longer incubation periods of up to 7 years have been documented. That is rare, and it's generally hard to prove that someone didn't have a more recent exposure to rabies.
16. I think I have health anxiety and I canât stop thinking about rabies all the time. How can I get help for this?
See this link. The automod can be summoned to share the information from this link with a comment that includes the word âhelpbot."
17. Someone is asking questions in the sub that I think are super dumb. Should I tell them that?
No. Please do not be rude or impatient. There is a real difference between a legitimate rabies scare and Persistent Health Anxiety (PHA), a subset of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD and anxiety are real diseases that can have physical symptoms, and there are treatments for them that many people donât know how to access. Both conditions are terrifying and life-altering, and both conditions deserve support. In this group, we support people who ask for help and we applaud them for finding the courage to do so. We will be kind, patient, respectful, and do our best to provide emotional support to anyone who seeks help here. All posts and/or replies that are in any way unkind, impatient, or rude will be immediately removed and the author may be temporarily or permanently banned from this group. Be nice!!
18. I feel sick. Do I have rabies?
If you feel sick, see a doctor. You may have another disease, including anxiety, which can have physical symptoms. We cannot diagnose you over the internet. See a doctor.
The incubation period for rabies is typically 2â3 months but may vary from 1 week to 1 year, depending on factors such as the location of virus entry and the viral load. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms before 1 week after exposure, that is not rabies. If you think you are experiencing symptoms more than 1 year after exposure, it is almost certainly not rabies. if you have not been exposed to a rabid animal and you believe you are experiencing rabies symptoms, you are not infected and are most likely experiencing anxiety. The prodromal stage lasts for a few days to a month and the acute neurologic stage lasts for a few days to a week; if you have symptoms that last longer than this, you do not have rabies.
Rabies symptoms only begin when the virus reaches the brain. It MUST reach the brain and produce SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL symptoms before it reaches the throat and salivary glands. This means that your sore throat is NOT caused by rabies unless you also have a severe fever, are experiencing loss of consciousness, paralysis, and seizures.
Rabies symptoms do not go away until death. If any of your symptoms go away, you don't have rabies. Every symptom stacks on top of the other symptoms. Rabies is not mild. It's SEVERE in every way. If you are experiencing rabies symptoms you will need to be hospitalized.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GET VACCINATED UNTIL SYMPTOMS START, but only get vaccinated if you were attacked by a rabid animal. Waking up with a mystery scratch is not a rabies exposure.
Rabies symptoms are as follows:
Prodromal Stage:
⢠Extreme Fever
⢠Extreme Headache
⢠Weakness
⢠Muscle pain
Acute neurologic phase:
⢠Visual Disturbances, Hallucinations, Double Vision
⢠Delirium, Confusion
⢠Tremors, Seizures, Repetitive Uncontrollable Movements
⢠Fading In and Out of Consciousness
⢠Light Sensitivity, Sensitivity to Wind / Moving Air
⢠Partial Paralysis of Extremities, Paralysis of One or Both Legs or Arms
⢠Excessive Salivation, combined with the inability to swallow AT ALL, not even your own saliva which causes excessive drooling
⢠Inability to Swallow - NOT SORE THROAT - Inability to eat or drink, or swallow your own saliva production
⢠Extreme Aversion to sight or sound of water, food, or drink, AKA hydrophobia
⢠Coma
Without extreme medical intervention, which usually is an induced coma, these symptoms will progress to death very rapidly. Most patients who reach the point of excessive salivation and hydrophobia die within 12-24 hours without intervention.
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SYMPTOMS, CALL 911 AND GET TO A HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CAN REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE, YOU ARE NOT EXPERIENCING RABIES SYMPTOMS. PEOPLE WITH ACTIVE RABIES INFECTIONS CANNOT TYPE, TALK, OR DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SICK. IF YOU CAN READ THIS AND REPLY, IT'S NOT RABIES.
r/rabies • u/LeatherTop8978 • 1h ago
I have read the FAQ. My question is does the observation period have to be done at a vet? Or can you just take seeing the animal Alive after 10 days a confirmation
r/rabies • u/Fit_Passage6282 • 53m ago
Why does FAQ 3 explicitly state that, if you see no bat, then there was no exposure- when a bat cold easily fly in through an open window at night, bite you, and easily be able to fly back out of that window before you wake up, therefore you'd never know you've been bit. What if someone sleeps with an open window and wakes up with something that appears like a bat bite, surely they should get the vaccines. Or, if someone has bats in their bedroom wall and one comes in during the night, bites you, then returns to the wall cavity before morning?
I'm genuinely curious why there is no info on these specific scenarios anywhere, I have searches everywhere. Surely this is a huge concern, especially as I currently have bats in my wall and I'm trying to figure out if I have been bit in my sleep as there is a large hole in my wall.
I have read the FAQ.
I have read the FAQ.
Location: South Florida/Broward County
About two months ago, a family of cats came to our yard: five adults and three kittens. My father-in-law left out food and water for them daily. The family would eat, go away, and come back the next day for their meals.
About a week after they showed up, my cousin told me we should trap them and get them spayed and neutered. Broward County has a community cat program that helps with that, so we were able to trap seven cats, but the last kitten was hard to catch. I got impatient and picked him up while he was eating, and he bit me on my index finger. I had to let him go, and he ran away. I wasnât able to catch him.
I washed the bite with soap and warm water and put Neosporin on it, then completely forgot about it.
About five days after this incident, animal control released the cats back into our front yard after they got their rabies shots, spayed, and neutered. The family came back the very next day for their meals, and I saw the kitten that bit me. He was eating the food and drinking the water, but his eyes were swollen. I watched him carefully, hoping he was ok. This went on for another week before I noticed that the kitty wasnât with his family anymore.
As of last Monday, my neighbor told me she found a dead kitten in her front yard a few weeks ago and discarded it. She said her Ring camera showed the kitten walking with her mom into her yard, laying down like it was sleeping, and the mom leaving a few minutes later. The kitten was found dead a few hours later when she got home from work.
Yesterday I had a fever and flu-like symptoms.
r/rabies • u/WangSagerII • 1h ago
The day before yesterday, I had a sore throat and was unable to swallow. I thought it was an early symptom of that disease. However, it turned out that it might have been a food allergy. Last night, I became extremely excited and couldnât fall asleep until now, which is further proof. No matter what you say, I will go to the hospital immediately and get vaccinated, regardless of what the doctor says or how much it costs. Iâm sorry for being so rude; Iâm really agitated right now. Sorry.
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/No-Possibility-7493 • 4h ago
Hi everyone,
I have read the FAQ. I'm still not exactly sure so that is why I made this post.
Sadly I could not add some pictures of my hand or legs.
Three days ago I pet a stray cat (no collar) on the street in Thailand. It looked healthy and well cared for, and a local was also petting its head and said something that sounded like "long", which I think means "try it" (after some research). The cat walked towards me on it's own after leaving the local and I called once or twice and he/she never showed aggressive behaviour.
I only petted the cat on its head and body, and it didn't scratch, bite or lick me. It only licked my shoe. Afterwards it did walk past my legs and rubbed its fur against them. The cat licked its own fur before I pet it and it walked past my legs. I have a few mosquito bites on my legs, but nothing really bloody. They're more like red spots that I've scratched, or that have dried into a small scab, and there are at most 4 of them. I also have to add that I have a very light scratch on 2 finger tips. I had these before petting the cat. The scratches are not deep, 1 or 2 layers of skin, and did not ever bleed before, during or after I petted the cat.
I did not touch anything with my hand afterwards until I came back to the hotel (15 min after petting) and washed my hands 4 or 5 times with soap. I also took a long shower and washed my legs multiple times with soap.
I might be a person who has anxiety given the fact that infection 100% leads to death...
Now I'm wondering whether I should be thinking about catching any diseases from the cat, rabies in particular, or not.
Does anyone know how this works and whether I should take any action?
Thank you!
I have read the FAQ.
My daughter found a kitten in a building in Nairobi. The kitten looks healthy, is playful, and has been playing with her. It scratched her with its claw (no bite), breaking the skin and causing a small amount of bleeding. The kitten is unvaccinated, and we are planning to adopt it.
The scratch happened 2 days ago. Should my daughter get rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), including the vaccine and possibly immunoglobulin? Would observing the kitten for 10 days be enough to rule out rabies? I'd appreciate advice from people familiar with rabies risks and treatment in Kenya.
r/rabies • u/Cultist_Crow_Muerte • 7h ago
I have read the FAQ. Still have a question. I had a very vivid dream there was a bat in my room. I woke to a pricking sensation on my neck. I looked and while it looks like a mite a or flea bite I'm still wondering if i should be concerned. I'll be calling my local health department about it but i guess I wanted the internet opinion.
I'm looking around the house for a sign of a bat but I haven't seen anything. I feel like it's pretty unlikely because it would've had to been in the house before we came. This was in Michigan btw.
Also my room windows were closed as was my door until I used the bathroom later that night.
So. Prettttty unlikely. But uh. I think understandably it did freak me out a bit.
Update: can't get ahold of local health department. They're closed on weekends.
Slight update (afternoon) I did look for the bat no sign of it existing. I can't do like a full top to bottom check because I'll be leaving on like an hour to go home. Pretty sure the bat wasn't real!. I also found a live flea (not in my bed) so it was the culprit almost certainly
r/rabies • u/helll1z92k4n • 8h ago
I have read the FAQ. So i have been scratched by my outdoor cat a few months ago. I have 3 cats and i donât remember which one scratched me. Two are still alive and well while the third one just dissapeared. Now its common for my outdoor cats to dissapear since they pass away in nature out of diffrent causes so im not surprised that she dissapeared. It was a tiny scratch i think on my hand but it did happen like MONTHS ago i dont exactly remember when. I only remembered about it yesterday and now i am really stressed. Should i be concerned?
r/rabies • u/LongjumpingRate9057 • 11h ago
anybody have headaches as me that doesn't go with rest for weeks? it's mild to moderate
I have read the faq.
r/rabies • u/Pretty-Cap-365 • 18h ago
So I've been bit by a stray cat probably not vaccinated, in the thumb joint yesterday (oct 17). But I had my rabivax doses completed on August 2. I immediately washed it off with soap multiple times and let water run through. It is safe right? Or shd I go take another injection? I have read the FAQ.
Ps. I take care of strays.
r/rabies • u/CoolandspecialBug • 15h ago
iâve always been a very paranoid guy, but thereâs a very specific scenario thatâs happened to me that has been in the back of my mind since the second of this month and itâs been bubbling to the surface as i âRun out of timeâ
October 2ndâŚ
I live on long island NY In the US. I was working around my titaneum/copper cleaned (but deactivated for a few days at this point) pool and I noticed a dead floating chipmunk or similar rodent that was waterlogged, putrid and stinking a bit. I picked it up out of the water, threw it over the fence and briefly, but with not much effort, rinsed the net in the water then I set it back up against the wall where it usually rests. as I was doing this water splashed onto my hand with my middle finger having at least two small nicks one with redness sort of like a hangnail and one thatâs similar to a scrape you get on your knee from concrete that doesnât draw blood. Shockingly I didnât panic as much as I do for a lot of things, so I went inside immediately and calmly washed my hands 3 times with dish soap with decent intensity. The rest of the night was uneventful and bereft of worry. I donât remember what happened the next day but I mustve used the ridiculousness of the situation as some form of bit and one of my friends mustve asked me if I was sure I didnât have rabies which has caused me to be a bit perturbed every day since then. Iâve done research and some of it is bugging me. Like the fact that theres an outbreak in my area or how rabies can survive up to 7 days in pondwater in a otherwise very vague article by CLRN. Despite most people and medical professionals telling me that rabies doesnt survive in water for very long iâve found very little information regarding this and a lot of viewpoits conflict. Most of the odds that are actually pretty favorable but I want to plug this once and for all. The answers medical professionals have given me were vague and weird.
Iâm well aware of how ridiculous this all sounds to be on my mind but I have a few questions they werenât able to answer in any meaningful way
How is rabies affected by decomposition?
When is rabid saliva unviable for infection?
Does water speed up or slow the rate of viral inviability?
Thank you for your time in advance.
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/Technical_Mixture766 • 18h ago
"I have read the FAQ. "
I have taken the vaccine due to my fear of the disease and ocd but after the first shot i started to have some sound and visual hallucinations I have a bad inner fever and my eye is a little bit unclear I can't eat much I feel like I'm going to throw up and I have problem getting out of the bed my eye closes once hit with light and air in the morning but after it's okay could something have gone wrong like could I get the disease from the vaccine or is it some rare allergic reaction I visited few doctors said everybody respondes differently
r/rabies • u/Old-Being8809 • 19h ago
I have read the FAQ. I am in the UK. Sometime early last week i heard some chittering noises coming from the radiator in my room, around 5 seconds, 3 times, in a span of 20 seconds. I was pretty convinced that when I looked there would be a mouse, which is to say it sounded pretty animal and close, but when I looked I saw nothing, although I didnt look too hard, because it is hard to see behind the radiator. Anyways, i decided that either it was a animal in the walls or it was weird noses from the radiators pipes. I havent heard the sound since. Then, Friday morning I woke up with a safety pin sized bloody spot on my upper inner thigh. I feel really concerned that this noises I had heard was a bat, and the mark i have found is a bat bite. I called NHS111 (UK's line for non urgent health Qs) and told them about this but they didn't really seem to understand my worry, and said I would know if a bat bit me in my sleep, which I know is not necessarily true. I have OCD about this kind of stuff, but I am usually pretty good and knowing when it is my OCD and when there is a valid concern, and I just cannot tell this time. I know the FAQ says that a suspicious mark is not a rabies exposure, which I understand, but i am wondering if the mark paired with the fact I heard these noises and work up with the mark after sleeping warrants a in person doctors visit, or if I am being totally unreasonable.
r/rabies • u/Vault_tec420 • 1d ago
Title is about how it is my dog went into an area i couldnât see and took me some time to get over there and by that point he had ate quite a lot of the carcass and while i was trying to get him away from it he licked me on the face directly over my nose and mouth and iâve been worrying there was still viral load in his mouth ever since and im not sure if my worry is even justified I have read the FAQ. and its such a specific scenario im not even sure, i definitely do have anxiety about things that are out of my control but this has been eating at me any info helps thank you
r/rabies • u/PsychologicalFig4976 • 1d ago
I'm on a vacation right now, and the problem is street dogs here. I was on a beach, and I've got a wound somehow on my foot. As I was walking, I walked through paw prints of a dog. Is it possible that this transmitted rabies or that there was contaminated saliva? I'm very anxious since it's my first time in a country that has many cases of rabies. Yes I have read the FAQ. Gpt tells me to seek medical h. It scares me even more. I woke up with an appetite los and a light head ache.
r/rabies • u/exhaustedftm • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ.
I've always had health anxiety and recently developed rabies phobia/OCD. So, a few days ago. I got a rabies scare and started my shots. I've somehow come across some information that there's been cases where there have been manufacturing faults in rabies vaccine and people have been injected with live virus.
This information has got me spiraling again. I live in bangladesh, not the most well regulated country in terms of healthcare. My mind is going places thinking that something's going to go wrong. Sorry if my writing is erratic. I have another dose left, now I can't decide if I should get the last dose.
r/rabies • u/Plantpotflow • 1d ago
i want to disinfect my belongings so bad. Yesterday i washed my cracked dry hands that have small cuts (due to constant hand washing) because my sister and her bf came back from the vet and got our dogs vaccinated and they touched stuff and my hands without washing their hands first and im also afraid that they touched other dogs that could have possibly had rabies showing no signs. So i washed my hands after they touched my hands but before i did i touched my fathers computer, and it wasnt a good job of hand washing since i was being rushed by my mom. I went upstairs in my bedroom to air dry my hands because it felt safee in there. I realized i did a bad job at washing my hands and that dog germs could still be on my hands and it could be circulating around my room and it could land on my stuff and i also felt like a drop of water from when i was drying my hands got on my phone. I felt like my phone was contaminated. I couldnt disinfect it tho because i knew my mom would get mad. I could only wash my blankets and clothes. After potentially getting dog germs on my phone i avoided touching it the whole day. It wasnt working anyway so i was used to not using my phone. By the way, when my sister touched my hands i used my dads computer and then washed my hands. So anyway after i realized my mistake of air drying my hands in the bedroom i simply regretted that decision. I went back downstairs and ate food and blah blah... i avoided touching the computer for a bit and used my moms tablet and then after my father touched the laptop i then used it. This is kinda confusing tho now that im thinking about it and maybe i contaminated more things that i thought... I never wiped down the computer and because the computer was my only source of entertainment i used it. I had to touch my clean clothes and blankets with my hands that touched the laptop. However i dont remember exactly if i did. I was sleepy for like two hours straight and was only allowed to rinse my hands with water. So basically theres a chance my blankets, my clothes, my lotion, my light switch and who knows what else is contaminated This is all i remember, I possibly touched the computer and then i put my clothes to wash. I then washed my hands and touched the laptop. I don't think i washed my hands before putting my clothes to dry. I then touched my dirty blankets to wash and rinsed my hands after. I possibly touched the laptop. I then touched my clean clothes and put the blankets to dry. I probably touched the laptop again. I then put my blankets upstairs. I finally washed my hands and went to go shower. I got back from my shower and touched my lotion bottle and used it. I then touched my clean clothes and changed. I turned off my light and went to bed. Then today i woke up. I touched my light switch and changed. I opened my door and carefully grabbed my phone. I put the phone on my dining room table and used the bathroom. I made my father put my phone to charge on those flat charger things. Now idk what to do. Its still charging but idk if my parents will let me disinfect my phone and belongings since i take hours. They know my ocd is terrible. Idk what to say or do because at first i was nervous of rabies but i decided to be stupid and touch the laptop and then my clothes. Im nervous of the cross contamination between my laptop, hands, and clothes+lotion bottle+lightswitch+doorknob+etc. I also feel like the clothes im wearing are contaminated since my phone touched my shirt and i also used the bathroom and touched my pants and shirt without washing my hands after touching the phone... im gonna shower anyway but i dont wanna touch my clothes as im taking it off and then shower because then ill want to wash my hands after my shower so i think im gonna have to wash my hands, change, wash hands and then move on with my day until i shower and then i dont wash my hands after my shower or i can wash my hands, change, wash hands, and then shower and then not wash my hands after my shower. Im also still using the laptop without wiping it down because the napkins feel dirty.
i have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/FailOver9743 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ. And I posted this one 6 days ago.
So on October 10th, 11:50-9 nighttime, itâs slightly raining, so me and my brother were going on the step of my house, I was following him and while I was going on the step, there is a small green plant and idk if it was my imagination, but I saw something that looked like a raccoon, and when I looked back I didnât see anything. I didnât hear any noises, and my thumb didnât brush it, and my brother claimed he did not see anything, and idk if it touched my right shoe or not, as it didnât see anything wet, so it couldâve been the rain.
I have OCD and sometimes I would imagine stuff, and idk if this was my imagination or not, and today while sitting in the middle seat of my car I was getting my AirPod case from the cubbyhole when it suddenly dropped, landed on my right shoe and then landed on the floorboard. It had brown wet dirt on it, so I wiped it on the back of the upfront seat, and then used a baby wipe to clean it as well.
I am feeling uneasy now, while my ocd is saying my AirPod case is âcontaminatedâ with the possible rabies virus, and I have plans to call the health department in a few days.
r/rabies • u/Majestic-Delivery257 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ. Hi everyone. First, I want to start by saying thank you for the FAQ as that has helped my OCD a lot and has calmed me. I know I have OCD and am working on it with a therapist.
I was out for a run the other night at dusk and live near the beach so donât see too many bats but there are trees and so they are here. One was flying relatively low to me as I was passing by on my run. Normal bat stuff. However, I ran for a few more steps and felt a sting near my ankle above my sock. I tried looking down and didnât really see anything there but it was getting dark and I had dark leggings on. I stopped after another block because it felt like something might be there but when I felt my ankle there was nothing and I didnât see anything. My ankle felt tender for the rest of the night and I did have a red mark but it was gone by morning.
I am pretty sure this is just my OCD acting up but wanted to ask as the internet can be conflicting when I tried to get more info. I honestly wouldnât have thought twice about it if it werenât for the stinging sensation on my ankle. Thank you in advance for the replies.
r/rabies • u/MidtownJunk • 1d ago
Someone posted on here a few days ago about a potential rabies exposure incident involving a gray fox in a supermarket in Cancun.
I'm in Cancun right now. It was a rabies case, the fox was captured and later tested positive for rabies. Following the public health alert, a 1 year old child who'd been scratched was given PEP and is "in good health". No other potential exposure reported, and all back to normal.
I'm posting this to let people know that health authorities take these things very seriously, and there's little to no chance of anyone encountering an animal such as a cat, dog, fox or raccoon seen to have active rabies without the authorities stepping in right at the start. The PEP is also very effective, so if you are unlucky enough to have contact, it can be dealt with efficiently.
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/Magnolia-Avenue • 1d ago
Hi everyone,
I completed a 3-dose Rabipur series in the UK in September 2023 (~3 years ago).
After a potential exposure in Peru today, a public hospital tried to give me Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) and start a full 5-dose series.
Following WHO/CDC guidelines, I:
Declined RIG (since I was previously vaccinated).
Got Dose #1 of an approved rabies vaccine (Rabivax-S) in my arm today.
Plan to get Dose #2 on Tuesday (Day 3) to finish the 2-dose booster protocol.
My questions:
Since my last vaccine was ~3 years ago, is my immune memory still active enough for just 2
boosters without RIG?
Was declining RIG the right move per UK/WHO standards? I believe I have up to 7 days to get RIG if I need it.
I have read the FAQ.
Thanks!
r/rabies • u/Salt-Delay2187 • 1d ago
What's the highest rabies boosters have anyone taken after their primary immunization and why ? Anyone from any country.
I have read the FAQ.
So to preface I do have ocd, and I have read the FAQ. Butttt sometimes I canât tell whether I actually have a genuine worry or not especially when everyone around me is telling me Iâm in danger. So it was 1am 17 days ago, I got a delivery outside. I didnât have inside lights on and the (uncovered) porch light is dim. I open the door and pick it up. After I picked it up it took me a second to realize that something very lightweight was on my hand. I shook it off, grabbed my bag and was heading inside. As Iâm halfway through the door I feel a sensation on my foot. I shake and run to turn on a light, but it takes me a bit to find it and come back. I see a roach inside which I definitely think could be it. But I didnât look outside the door. I have a pretty big step to get inside so Iâm trying to think about how it would have dropped and hitched a ride on my foot? I guess that definitely couldâve happened, though I was only halfway inside with the door still open. I think I was already stepping up to my door when I felt it on me so Iâm unsure how it got there with my foot being elevated, or if it was on me longer than I felt it. I was wearing shorts so I wouldâve felt if it was running down my body. I also didnât feel it land on me if it were flying as I feel that would have felt like some weight to it. Just felt just a sudden sensation. Also thought it couldâve already been on the bag somewhere when I dropped it. In the moment I was sure it was that roach until about a minute later I feel a tingle/sting on my foot. I see what looks like an old wound but with two pinpoint puncture marks and a scratch leading from it right where the sensation was coming from. But I donât think the skin looked broken? And I think the scratch could be old. But honestly couldnât tell. I called up a number I found just in case (to ease my mind about the wound/scratch honestly) and they told me I need to get the rabies vaccine. That it could have been a lightweight bat. The thing is I didnât hear anything, and I didnât see anything fly down at least? Though, it was pretty dark. I didnât look towards the ground either. I also didnât feel any bite in the moment or pain. The creature that was on me was very light, about 2-3 inches long (at least on my hand is what it felt like), maybe bigger? But I keep hearing that you can actually get rabies from a very small puncture or scratch that isnât always visible. I also heard that bats can be silent and also feel âweightlessâ as they sometimes can only weigh a few grams. I do see LOTS of bats in my area around this time of year very often. But theyâre kind of big? At least the ones I see flying around at dusk are. There also have been I think 1 or 2 rabid bats captured in my town within a month. I will post below what theyâre texting me. I was about to forget about this whole thing as it lines up with the roach until they started texting me asking if I got the vaccine and recommending it.
Here are some texts I received so you can see the advice theyâve given me:
âOk, completely understand. I am the Epi at the county in charge of animal bites. If youâre not able to review the footage and are not sure what the animal was, I would recommend getting the rabies vaccine. It is ultimately your decision.
The schedule for the rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccine series is as follows:
Day 0: 1st shot along with rabies immune globulin (RIG).
Day 3: 2nd shot 3 days after Day 0.
Day 7: 3rd shot 7 days after Day 0.
Day 14: 14 days after Day 0.
There may be a 5th shot if you are immunocompromised.
Once you have completed the series, you will have protection against rabies for 3 months. After that, should you have another rabies exposure you will only need 2 shots: Day 0 and Day 3.
For more information visit âŚâ
âHey, yeah, itâs hard to tell. Based on the guidance around bats, I still recommend getting the rabies vaccine to be on the safe side due to these risk factors: youâve seen bats in the area, and you have a wound on your leg where its saliva could have touched you.
You could also see if your insurance covers the vaccines at all; thatâs usually the deciding factor for a lot of people even when the situation is clear cut. Let me know if you decide to get it or not.â
(I clarified to them that there was no open wound-at least pretty sure didnât see any broken skin and waiting for them to respond)
