Today (September 28) is World Rabies Day.
Rabies is an acute zoonotic infectious disease caused by rabies virus (genus Lyssavirus in the family Rhabdoviridae) and mainly invades the central nervous system. There is currently no effective treatment. Generally, people will die from respiratory or circulatory failure within 10 days of onset.
In 2007, 3,300 rabies cases were reported in my country. With the implementation of comprehensive rabies prevention and control measures, the number of cases continued to decline, and by 2023 it had dropped to 122 cases. Although cases have rebounded slightly in 2024 and 2025 (167 cases in 2024 and 247 cases in 2025), the total number of cases is still far lower than in earlier years.
Once rabies occurs, the fatality rate is almost 100%, but the disease can be avoided through timely and standardized prevention. Therefore, it is very important to have the correct knowledge about rabies prevention. What should you know about rabies? Watch together↓↓↓
Question 1: How is rabies transmitted to humans?
In daily life, people can be infected with rabies through the following situations of contact with sick animals:
Being scratched or bitten by an animal;
Sharing food with animals, feeding by mouth, and other excessively intimate behaviors that cause the animal's saliva to come into contact with the oral mucosa;
Let animals lick unhealed wounds and mucous membranes;
Slaughter infected animals (especially if there are open wounds on hands).
Question 2: How long is the incubation period of rabies?
The incubation period of rabies is generally 1-3 months, and cases of less than a week or more than 1 year are rare. The statement circulating on the Internet that "rabies can lie dormant for more than ten years" has no scientific basis.
Question 3: What are the symptoms of rabies?
Specific performance:
Manic type: Most patients are manic type; they are highly excited, afraid of water, afraid of wind, paroxysmal pharyngeal muscle spasm, salivation, vomiting, excessive sweating, accelerated heart rate, increased blood pressure, etc.
Paralytic type: sometimes diagnosed as viral encephalitis, it does not have the typical symptoms of hydrophobia, fear of wind, photophobia, fear of sound, excessive salivation, spasm, etc. Common symptoms include weakness of limbs and paralysis. Paralysis often starts at the bitten part of the limb, and then spreads radially to the surrounding areas. Part or all of the muscles are paralyzed, and the throat muscles and vocal cords are paralyzed, resulting in aphonia.
Question 4: What is rabies exposure? How to grade?
Rabies exposure refers to being bitten, scratched, licked at mucous membranes or broken skin by a rabid dog, a suspected rabid dog, or a host animal whose rabies cannot be determined, or when an open wound or mucous membrane comes into direct contact with saliva or tissue that may contain rabies virus.
There are three levels of rabies exposure based on the mode of contact and degree of exposure:
If the skin is not broken, or if intact skin is licked, it is Level I exposure;
A slight bite on the exposed skin, a minor scratch or abrasion without obvious bleeding, or a slight blood mark is considered Level II exposure;
Single or multiple penetrating skin bites or scratches with obvious bleeding; or damaged skin being licked, and open wounds or mucous membranes contaminated by saliva or tissue are Level III exposures. In addition, direct contact with bats is also Level III exposure.
Question 5: How to deal with rabies exposure at different risk levels?
Level I exposure generally has no risk of infection, and the exposed area can be washed without medical treatment.
Level II exposed persons are at risk of mild infection and should have their wounds treated and vaccinated against rabies. Persons with Level II exposure and severely immunocompromised individuals, or Level II exposures whose wounds are located on the head and face and the health status of the injured animal cannot be determined, shall be treated as Level III exposures.
Level III exposed persons should promptly treat their wounds, evaluate whether they need to use rabies passive immunity preparations based on their previous vaccine immunization history, and receive rabies vaccines according to procedures.
Question 6: How to treat the wound after being scratched or bitten by a cat or dog?
Wash all bites and scratches thoroughly with soapy water and running water under a certain pressure for about 15 minutes;
After flushing, apply diluted iodophor or other skin and mucosal disinfectants with virus-inactivating effects on the wound;
According to the wound contamination or infection, antibiotics should be used rationally to reduce infections other than rabies virus.
Question 7: Do I need to get rabies vaccine if I am scratched or bitten by my own cat or dog?
First of all, it must be clear that cats and dogs will not contract rabies "out of thin air". Just like humans, they must first be scratched or bitten by an animal in the disease stage (infectious stage), and the virus can enter the wound through saliva before becoming infected.
In addition, rabies virus does not remain dormant in animals for long periods of time. Once a cat or dog is infected with rabies virus, the incubation period is usually 1-3 months, and they will die within 10 days after onset.
Owners cannot abandon disposal based solely on subjective judgments about pet health. They can comprehensively assess risks based on the following three conditions:
01
Has it been vaccinated against rabies?
Pets that have been vaccinated against rabies in regular institutions for two consecutive years have a very low probability of getting the disease.
02
Is it at risk for rabies?
🐱 For cats: If it is a domestic cat, and it can be confirmed that the cat has not gone out or come into contact with other animals within half a year, there is almost no possibility of being infected with rabies virus.
🐶 For dogs: If the dog is within sight of the owner every time he goes out, make sure there is no contact with other suspicious animals and no chance of being infected with rabies virus.
03
Was it in normal condition at the time of the incident?
When a cat or dog injures someone, if they are in a normal mental state and the injury is unintentional during play, the risk is relatively low, but a comprehensive judgment must be made based on the first two conditions.
Question 8: What should I do if I am not sure whether my pet is at risk of contracting rabies?
First of all, the wound should be treated promptly and correctly (refer to question 6), and go to the hospital for vaccination.
Next, you can continue to pay attention to your pet through the "10-day observation method". If the pet is still completely healthy after 10 days, the risk can be completely eliminated and subsequent vaccinations can be terminated.
Question 9: Can I use the "10-day observation method" if I am scratched or bitten by a stray animal?
no!
The "10-day observation method" is limited to domestic animals, and animals that injure humans must have two clearly documented and valid rabies vaccination histories. In addition, the "10-day observation method" is not equivalent to observing for 10 days before deciding whether to vaccinate. It is a reference basis for judging whether the animal that hurts humans carries rabies virus. It is used to evaluate whether the bite person can terminate the subsequent vaccination, and it can also dispel the concerns of the bitten person.
If you are scratched or bitten by a stray animal, you must treat the wound as soon as possible and vaccinate in time!
Question 10: If I get vaccinated more than 24 hours after being bitten, will it still be effective?
efficient. "Vaccination is only effective within 24 hours" is a rumor.
Post-exposure treatment of rabies is a time-consuming process, so the sooner you get vaccinated, the better. However, as long as you don't get sick, timely and full vaccination will still have a protective effect.
Question 11: What should I do if I am bitten by a stray animal after being vaccinated?
If re-exposure occurs during the vaccination process, the remaining doses of vaccination should continue to be completed according to the original vaccination schedule;
Those who are exposed again within 3 months after full vaccination generally do not need booster vaccination;
Those who are exposed again 3 months or more after full vaccination should receive a booster dose of rabies vaccine on days 0 and 3.
In addition, every time you are scratched or bitten, the wound needs to be treated properly, and tetanus needs to be properly prevented.
Question 12: Can pregnant women receive rabies vaccine?
Research shows that rabies vaccination for pregnant women is safe and will not cause adverse effects on the fetus. Breastfeeding women can breastfeed normally after being vaccinated against rabies.
worldwide
Core measures to prevent and control rabies
It lies in the standardized management of dogs and herd immunity
Vaccinate pets on time and in a standardized manner
Don't abandon pets
It's from the source
The fundamental means to protect our own safety!
