Does rabies spread through saliva?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 24, 2024
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Rabies is primarily transmitted through saliva. The rabies virus is likely to be present in the saliva of dogs or cats during the symptomatic phase. Dogs or cats carrying the rabies virus have a high concentration of the virus in their saliva during this phase. If bitten by an animal in this stage, there is a significant risk of infection. Prevention measures should be based on the actual situation, including vaccination against rabies and local administration of rabies immunoglobulin at the wound site. Rabies is a fatal disease with no treatment available, but it is preventable.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Is rabies contagious?

Rabies is contagious; in fact, most cases of rabies result from being bitten by rabid dogs, cats showing symptoms of the disease, or bats carrying the rabies virus. There have been no reports of transmission from human to human. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% mortality rate once infected. The saliva of dogs showing symptoms contains a high concentration of the virus. If one is bitten and does not receive timely prevention and intervention, there is a high likelihood of contracting the infection.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Symptoms of rabies

After the onset of rabies, obvious clinical symptoms appear, including panic, irritability, and a range of neurological symptoms such as fear of wind, water, bright lights, and noise sensitivity. There can also be hyperextension, restlessness, hallucinations, and ultimately death due to coma. Once rabies begins to manifest, most patients die within 3-5 days, with very few surviving beyond a week. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% mortality rate once infected, and there are no effective treatments available.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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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.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Can rabies be treated?

Rabies, once contracted, is incurable and leads to a 100% fatality rate. The reason rabies is incurable primarily stems from the rabies virus invading the human body and proliferating extensively within the brain's nerves. This leads to the destruction of brain tissues and the exhaustion of brain functions, making it impossible to treat. Therefore, prevention of rabies is crucial. If there is exposure to the rabies virus, it is necessary to administer the rabies vaccine, and in some cases, it may also be necessary to administer rabies immunoglobulin concurrently.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
35sec home-news-image

Does rabies spread through saliva?

Rabies is primarily transmitted through saliva. The rabies virus is likely to be present in the saliva of dogs or cats during the symptomatic phase. Dogs or cats carrying the rabies virus have a high concentration of the virus in their saliva during this phase. If bitten by an animal in this stage, there is a significant risk of infection. Prevention measures should be based on the actual situation, including vaccination against rabies and local administration of rabies immunoglobulin at the wound site. Rabies is a fatal disease with no treatment available, but it is preventable.