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Is Transmission Of Rabies Infection Possible Through Skin Contact?
Question: I had a stray dog bite on my tight, no tear of trousers, taking rabipur as advised.
I'm back home after ~10hrs and while changing touched my wife's face.
I later notice that i had been touching the cloth where the dog bit and also, my wife's face where I touched had a ripe pimple.
I'm worried if my wife(also now 11 months pregnant) needs to take rabies vaccination?
I'm back home after ~10hrs and while changing touched my wife's face.
I later notice that i had been touching the cloth where the dog bit and also, my wife's face where I touched had a ripe pimple.
I'm worried if my wife(also now 11 months pregnant) needs to take rabies vaccination?
Brief answer.....there is nothing to worry
Detailed answer....
Hello,
I have read your query and understand your concern.
Rabies virus is a very fragile virus and gets destroyed within few minutes of exposure to temperatures above 122 degree F and doesn't survive for more than couple of hours at room temperature.
Other important point is that moment saliva or any other material containing virus dries, the virus is no longer infectious.
Since in your case it is more than 10 hours after the bite,chances of any transmission of rabies to your wife doesn't exist.
No need for any anti rabies injection to her.
I hope it helps,however you are most welcome to revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
Detailed answer....
Hello,
I have read your query and understand your concern.
Rabies virus is a very fragile virus and gets destroyed within few minutes of exposure to temperatures above 122 degree F and doesn't survive for more than couple of hours at room temperature.
Other important point is that moment saliva or any other material containing virus dries, the virus is no longer infectious.
Since in your case it is more than 10 hours after the bite,chances of any transmission of rabies to your wife doesn't exist.
No need for any anti rabies injection to her.
I hope it helps,however you are most welcome to revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks Doctor. One more thing though.
I later had my wife wash her face and apply alchohol (cutarub). She had complained that it burns.
I'm worried if there was a broken skin. Also the climate being humid afraid the saliva may not have dried completely.
Can I still have her take rabies vaccination just to be safe?
I later had my wife wash her face and apply alchohol (cutarub). She had complained that it burns.
I'm worried if there was a broken skin. Also the climate being humid afraid the saliva may not have dried completely.
Can I still have her take rabies vaccination just to be safe?
Hello,
Your apprehensions are misfounded.
10 hours is a very longtime for saliva to have dried up irrespective of the presence of humidity.
Thanks
Your apprehensions are misfounded.
10 hours is a very longtime for saliva to have dried up irrespective of the presence of humidity.
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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