Rabies is transmitted through what?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

Updated on January 09, 2025

00:00

00:00

According to epidemiological surveys in our country, the majority of rabies cases are caused by bites from rabid dogs. Bites and scratches from cats, bats, and other animals are relatively less common, but they still occur occasionally. Dogs or cats exhibiting symptoms of the disease have a large amount of rabies virus in their saliva, which is highly contagious. Rabies is a fatal disease, and once infected, it is 100% fatal with no available treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen prevention measures, which can include rabies vaccinations and rabies immunoglobulin.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

42sec

home-news-image

Rabies clinical symptoms

Rabies presents with typical symptoms that usually appear two to four days before the onset, including low-grade fever, general discomfort, muscle soreness, weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Some individuals may also experience irrational fear, anxiety, agitation, irritability, hyper-sensitivity, insomnia, or depression. The bitten area may also exhibit symptoms of nerve pain, numbness, itching, or a sensation similar to an ant bite. Once rabies onset occurs, it generally leads to death, and it is rare for individuals to survive more than ten days after the disease manifests.

home-news-image

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

41sec

home-news-image

How long is the longest incubation period for rabies?

The incubation period of rabies is generally between one to three months, and it is rare for the disease to have incubation period longer than a year. Most cases usually fall within one to three months, according to the 2016 Rabies Prevention Guide. The longest recorded incubation period for rabies mentioned in the guide was six years, but such cases are extremely rare. Therefore, if a person is bitten by a dog and does not develop the disease within a year, it is generally considered that they were not infected with rabies at the time of the bite. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% fatality rate upon infection, so prevention is crucial.

home-news-image

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

37sec

home-news-image

Rabies is transmitted through what?

Rabies is actually a relatively rare disease, but it is a very dangerous one with a 100% fatality rate once infected. In clinical practice, most cases of rabies are due to not being vaccinated after being bitten by a rabid dog. There are also frequent occurrences after being bitten or scratched by a cat without vaccination against rabies. Additionally, there is a risk of infection from bat bites as well. Rabies cannot be treated, and the main approach is prevention. There have been no cases of transmission from human to human, and it can be prevented through rabies vaccination.

home-news-image

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

42sec

home-news-image

How long does rabies usually take to manifest?

Rabies generally has a variable incubation period. The question actually refers to the incubation period of rabies. The duration of this period can vary widely; the shortest is about five days before onset of the disease, while the longest can reach up to eight years. The average incubation period is two to three months, with cases exceeding one year accounting for 2%-3% of instances. The length of the incubation period is related to factors such as the virulence of the virus, and the nerve distribution at the site of entry. The greater the amount of the virus, the stronger its virulence, and the richer the nerve supply at the site of entry, especially if it is closer to the central nervous system, the shorter the incubation period will be.

home-news-image

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

36sec

home-news-image

Rabies is transmitted through what?

According to epidemiological surveys in our country, the majority of rabies cases are caused by bites from rabid dogs. Bites and scratches from cats, bats, and other animals are relatively less common, but they still occur occasionally. Dogs or cats exhibiting symptoms of the disease have a large amount of rabies virus in their saliva, which is highly contagious. Rabies is a fatal disease, and once infected, it is 100% fatal with no available treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen prevention measures, which can include rabies vaccinations and rabies immunoglobulin.