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How Long Rabies Virus Live And Remain Infectious On The Wound Of Dog Bite Victim?

Posted on Tue, 24 Sep 2024

Question: Sir, How long rabies virus live and remain infectious on the wound of dog bite victim???? Can it infect any second person if the second person's wound or mucus membrane comes in contact with the dog bite victim's wound????
How long rabies virus live and remain infectious on wet clothes????

Answered by Dr. Vasudha (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained in detail below.

Detailed Answer:
HI ,
Thanks for the query.I have read it &understood your concern.
Rabies virus can survive in victim's tissues/wound only for few seconds...So it can not infect even if , some other person's open wound or mucus membrane, comes in contact with the victim's wound (after few seconds of dog bite.)
The virus is excreted through saliva of an infected dog& it spreads through contact of saliva with victims open wound or mucus membrane.
Virus can live in infected dogs body &by no chance it can be alive&infective while it's in a wet cloth.
I hope that answers your query.Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Saisudha Kotla

Follow up: Dr. Vasudha (12 hours later)

Sir, I took the intradermal rabies vaccine today on two deltoid regions. One drop of vaccine or some other liquid came out from left side. Another mistake I have done that I did chatting on my XXXXXXX for sometime after taking the vaccination today. For this my hands couldn't rest after vaccination today. Will it again make the vaccine out of the body ????Will the vaccine be still effective or I have to take one more vaccine????
This is the 2nd dose of vaccine of second serise of vaccination for a dog's scratch on 18 Sep 2022(I had taken first serise vaccines on 08,11,15 May & 05 XXXXXXX 2022 for a bat scratch on 07 May 2022 but no belb was formed on last dose of that serise on 05 XXXXXXX 2022). Will it still work????

Answered by Dr. Vasudha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below.

Detailed Answer:
HI Ddd.sss2014,
Thanks for the follow up query.
AntiRabies vaccine after exposure to Rabies(dog bite)....is given intramuscular.
-Quantity of vaccine in a dose is 1 ml.
So leaking out of a single drop should not be worried for...you won't need to repeat the dose.
-Intramuscular injections do no cause 'belb'..the local reaction, as its caused by intradermal /subcutaneous injections.As here intramuscular injection was given belb will not be seen.
*It seems you had 1st series of antirabies injections in current year(May 2022). ..In such a case-
- An yearly booster dose is required for continuation of immunity.
- In case there is incidence of Rabied dog bite in the year...2 doses of vaccine are enough to protect
1st dose is given on the day of bite
2nd dose to be given on day 3rd of bite.
*Please inform the vaccinating doctor that you had a series of vaccination in May this year for bat bite..&get a specific advise(considering patient&Geographical prevalence of disease in your area.) , about the current vaccinations you are having.
I hope the information helps you.Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Vasudha (2 hours later)

Respected madam, perhaps U have missed my query. It was intradermal vaccine not intramuscular vaccine. I had taken first series of vaccines(8 May, 11 May, 15 May, 05 XXXXXXX 2022 and belb was not formed on 05 XXXXXXX 2022 only). Now I am taking a second serise of vaccination for a minor exposure on 18 Sep 2022(I took vaccine on 19 and 22 Sep 2022). A drop of liquid(don't know it was vaccine or not) came out at my left deltoid region on today's vaccine. Another thing I again had a little scratch by a dog on 21 Sep 2022. This much vaccine I have completed. Am I safe now(I fear as a little vaccine came out today and there was no belb on last dose of previous series)????

Answered by Dr. Vasudha (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below.

Detailed Answer:
HI Ddd.sss 2014,
Thanks for follow up query.
Sorry for misunderstanding your query.It was after I read refference of Deltoid region as injection site &Deltoid muscle under the area is common site for intramuscular injections.
Anyway following are the answers for your queries.
1 -You are suspicious about effectively of vaccination in month of May 2022.According to you, there was no belb formation after the last injection (on 5th June).
Bleb formation Is a local skin reaction indicating the drug is in .This reaction can be redness,itching or swelling at the site.Apart from this,head ache,nausea,abdominal pain,muscles or joint pains ,fever are also due to vaccine entering body.
* In case you had any one of these after injection....that would be due to vaccine irritating the tissue. IN case there was none of the symptoms,there is possibility for doubt&In such a case Serrological test can be done after 28 days of vaccination to conform effectiveness of vaccination.
-2. On 18th September,you had a miner exposure (only a scratch..)The scratch can be due to nails of the dog too..weather it was nail or tooth injury needs to be examined&confirmed.
You had taken second vaccination series for protection.
And this time you feel a drop of vaccine came out after vaccination
In intradermal injection 0.1ml (roughly 2 drops)of vaccine is injected intradermally.
I feel this must be confirmed from the vaccinater & if needful the dose can be repeated. Or you can take an extra dose with your doctor's advise.
I hope that satisfies you.Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj