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Sir, If Dog's Saliva Present On Any Object And I

Posted on Sat, 1 Oct 2022

Question: Sir, if dog's saliva present on any object and I touch that object immediately and then immediately touched my nostrils. Can the virus live in the nostrils for 8 hours and then infect my son if my nostrils come in contact with his eye more than once while kissing him throughout the day?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (25 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Indirect transmission is very rare. Detail answer below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome to the Ask A Doctor.

Following is my opinion for your asked question.

Dog salive mainly spread rabies virus if dog is rabid means infected with rabies.

Rabies virus live on surface for few hour. Human acquire infection mainly by dog bite or direct contact with infected fluid.

In mentioned history you touched saliva and than handled your children.

So, such indirect transmission practically not possible.

Your chance of acquiring infection also almost nil.

So, you might need not to worry about that incidence.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (13 hours later)

Sir, sorry to disturb. But can the virus infect my son if I used my XXXXXXX phone after touching the bag which is suspected to have recently dog's saliva and then from XXXXXXX phone to my hand and then to my son's eye (if my hand touched my son's eye/any of his wound repeatedly) ????
Is it possible for rabies transmission through contaminated recently inanimate object ????

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (13 minutes later)

Sir, I asked this type of question because I heard that the keypad of mobile/switches of smartphones keeps many virus alive for longer periods. Is rabies virus one of them which can remain infectious by hiding itself within the XXXXXXX phone ????

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back to the Ask A Doctor.

Following is my further answers for your asked question.

I have not seen any case of rabies transmitted by inanimate object.

Rabies virus usually died within few minutes outside blood. Sometime virus can live for few hours.

But rabies doesn't spread via way you mentioned in history.

You touched your son after touching XXXXXXX and than his eye. This way is not well known for transmitting rabies virus.

And most important one is that to transmit virus, dog should be rabid and infected with virus. Most pet dog doesn't acquire rabies due to vaccination.

It's good practice to spray disinfectant over XXXXXXX cover and phone at few days interval to make it bacteria and virus free.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (23 minutes later)

Thanks a lot sir. Sir, as you mentioned that "Rabies virus usually died within few minutes outside blood". Sir, is rabies virus live in blood or saliva ???? Hope you will be kind enough to help me.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back.

Following is my further answer for your asked question.

Rabies virus does not trasmit to human by blood. It transmit to human via saliva, respiratory fluid etc. Contact.

So, human usually acquire infection if dog licked or bite to human means intimate close contact with saliva of dog.

Blood of infected dog doesn't spread rabies virus.

Hope your now understand my answer.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

If yu have no further question than kindly close the discussion and give rating.

Thank you.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (4 hours later)

Yes sir, I had also read the same that blood of any animal does not have rabies. But as you said that- "Rabies virus usually died within few minutes outside blood". so I became confused. U may be kind enough to read your previous replies. Thank you sir

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back.

Yes. I mean it can't survive longer outside body on object. Rabies virus mainly spread by saliva like infectious fluid.

So, Don't worry.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if yu have further question in mind or else kindly close the query.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (3 hours later)

Thank you sir.
Respected Sir,
1) is rabies transmission possible if I touch an object which is recently licked by any dog and then touch my raincoats which is kept in an airtight basket and then after 5 minutes onwards I opened the basket and touch the raincoat and then my hand touched my nephew's eye? Is there any possibility if I did the above thing unknowingly more than once ? Can the rabies virus live on the raincoat because it was in an airtight basket????
2) is the transmission possible to the baby if dog's recent saliva from an object to 1st person's eye(via his hand) and then from his eye to baby's eye via his hands more than once????

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome to Ask A Doctor.

Following is my opinion for your asked question.

I have mentioned earlier as well that such above mentioned two method transmission is extremely rare and I have not heard of such indirect transmission.

So, it's better not to worry about that.

If yu have pet dog than it's better to get vaccinated for that dog to avoid any future exposure by licking or bite on skin.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (2 hours later)

SIR, if dog's saliva is there on any inanimate object then how long rabies virus remains infectious on any inanimate object so that it can infect human if that object comes in contact with human's wound/human's eye/human's any mucus membrane????
Sir, sorry to disturb. This is a general query.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Rabies virus doesn't spread via inanimate object. Detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome to Ask A Doctor.

Sorry for late reply.

Following is my opinion for your asked question.

Rabies virus survive for only few minutes to hours on inanimate objecte. In most of cases, it dies immediately and loose Infectivity on inanimate object.

So, contaminated object by rabies virus doesn't spread rabies to human.

Hope your question is clear now.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (1 hour later)

Sir, the saliva on any inanimate object which is yet to dry to lose it's infectivity, if it comes in contact with water droplets/water then will it be infectious(because there won't be no more dryness)???? If such saliva(with water drops) get into any person's nostrils or eye then can it infect the baby if the nostrils or eye of that person repeated come in contact with baby's eye or nostrils????
Is it possible????
Sir, I may be excused but I asked U because U R the right person who reply so nicely.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back to Ask A Doctor.

Following is my further opinion for your asked question.

Rabies virus can't survive long on any inanimate object. Even if with contact of water as well, Infectivity can't regained.

So, You need not to worry about that mentioned way of transmission as well.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (2 hours later)

Thank uou sir, is there any chance that rabies virus in dog's saliva to regain it's infectivity when it is mixed with human blood/human cell/water droplets/water outside it's host and infect a new host ?

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (17 minutes later)

Let me make it a bit clear. If dog's saliva is mixed with human blood/human cell/water droplets/water outside on any surface or intact skin (I am not sure whether human cell/blood/any human tissue can be available outside human body or not) then can the rabies virus retain it's infectivity for longer periods or can it regain it's infectivity if it was going to lose it's infectivity????
And after regaining infectivity/retaining infectivity can it infect a new host?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back to Ask A Doctor.

Following is my further opinion for your asked question.

Rabies virus can't regain their infectivity by contact with human blood or tissue or water.

The mentioned way are not route of spread of rabies virus.

So, you need not to worry about that.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (6 hours later)

Thank you so much sir. U have cleared many of my wrong perceptions regarding rabies virus. Thanks a lot for it sir. Sir, U have already explained that rabies virus can't be transmitted by inanimate objects. But can it be transmitted by the way
(1)Dog's saliva on human intact skin and then to other person's wound? ( I asked it because human skin is not an inanimate object).
(2) Dog's saliva on human skin, then to XXXXXXX phone key pad/mobile phone switch(it may not get open air within XXXXXXX key/switch so might survive to infect), and then XXXXXXX phone swich/key accidentally comes in touch with human eye more than once????

Is it possible way of rabies transmission?
U have already cleared many things. Please do a last favour sir.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back to Ask A Doctor.

Following is my further opinion for your asked question.

Rabies virus can't enter into human body through intact skin.

Rabies virus spread only through broken skin or mucous membrane.

Dog saliva on intact skin and than on XXXXXXX phone etc. mentioned way are not mode of virus transmission.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (9 days later)

Respected sir, in the past consultation you have explained that it is not possible but I wish to ask is it not possible even if it's done repeatedly unknowingly?
I mean to ask if I touch my XXXXXXX phone after touching suspected dog's saliva and after sometime my son gets his eye contacted with the XXXXXXX phone repeatedly while playing with it does it carries any risk of rabies???? Can rabies virus live inside XXXXXXX key pads or XXXXXXX phone switches because there is no open air????

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back to the Ask A Doctor.

Sorry for late reply.

Following is my further opinion for your asked question.

Rabies virus can't survive long on XXXXXXX phones switches.

The mentioned way of touching saliva indirectly as well through XXXXXXX or other object is not way of rabies virus infection transmission.

So, don't worry.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (44 hours later)

Thank you sir. Sir, let me ask my last query. I was taking my friend to the hospital who was bitten by a dog. After coming home I took bath using soap but couldn't wash my head with shampoo. I only poured 2-3 mug of normal water on my head that too not properly washed my head. then I combed the hair and put the comb in an airtight drawer. After sometime my 3 year old nephew took that comb and played. I worried if can the rabies virus come from the wound of my friend to my hand or head(if I touched my head) and live inside my hair(as it may not get open air inside hairs) and if some virus survive after pouring water(as it might not poured properly) and then come to comb and live on it as it was in an airtight draw and then infect my nephew if the comb come in contact with his hands and then to his eye or wound or nostrils???? Is it possible sir????

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back to the Ask A Doctor.

Following is my further opinion for your asked question.

Rabies can't spread if you handled your friend to bring him to hospital and than indirectly via inanimate object like comb.

So, don't worry about that.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (41 hours later)

Sir, does rabies virus live longer on human intact skin than any inanimate object due to human body temperature?
Sir, if a person touches his inner part of nose with having rabies virus on his hand(blood or dog's saliva from the wound of any dog bite victim) but then after 1 hour his inner part of nose come in contact unknowingly more than once with baby's hand and then the baby touches baby's eye or inner or outer part of nose of baby or any wound on the body of the baby. Then can rabies virus remain infectious in the first person's inner nose after 1 hour to infect the baby? It's not possible to wash baby's eye, inner part of nose or wound then is there any fear due to it ? Is there any possibility if his inner part of nose come in contact with the eye or inner nose or wound of the baby directly after 1 hour ????

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up Question. Detailed Below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back to the Ask A Doctor.

Following is my opinion for your asked question.

Rabies virus can't live longer on intact skin or inanimate object.

It can't spread by mentioned way in history.

I think you might need not to worry about indirect spread of rabies to baby via nose or eye touching.

Hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Best regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. LAKSHMI