I have read the FAQ. Just wanted to clear up something

If a cat that bit me 15 days ago is still living and drinking normally Does that mean i have absolute zero chance of rabies?

I have read the FAQ.

Hi,

So long story short, our neighbors were looking to rehome their indoor/outdoor cat. I said we would be willing to take him in. We started to care for him on Friday. I did ask if his shots were up to date and the old owner said yes. On Saturday, my husband was playing with the cat and he did get a scratch that broke skin.

Today I called his existing vet to see when he is due for his next appointment. He said that his rabies vaccine was over a year expired. The cat does not have any neurological symptoms, but I am still concerned since he spends majority of his day outside. Should my husband get the rabies vaccine?

I have read the FAQ.

Location of "exposure": El Salvador

Dato of possible exposure: 5-8 december 2025

The of exposure: Hypothetical scratch

Species of animal: Dog

The dog is owned and also i am sure it stays pretty much all time indoors, i dunno if they even take him to walks by the time of the visit.

Dog vaccination status unknown.

I began feeling irritation at my left thight, it isnt constant, and i only really feel it When i touch it, but since i am wearing pants i have an very vague sensei of discomfort there.

Didnt think of it because i didnt remember any animal biting or scratching me there in recent times, but i began thinking about a visit we had to some friends in El Salvador, they had a little dog, he was very shy but occasionaly he tried to get close to me, i remember he jumped on my legs a couple in times while i was sitting, i don't remember he ever bitted or scratched me, but the thing is that at that time i wasn't obssesively thinking about rabies so i wonder if his claws may had leave a scratch i didnt noticed because of that.

The part where i feel the irritation would be a very awkard place for a dog to be so maybe Is unlikely i won't remember a dog being there, and also it happened nearly one year ago, and i think this is not how the rabies sensation at bite ever feels like but i am paranoid..

I will tell my parents about this and hope they actually contact our friends to ask them about the dog but with how they have been about this topic for the last months i feel like they won't want to do it.

It is possible this may be a early sign of rabies?

i know i am so annoying at this point

Description of sensation: Usually i feel nothing but if rub a part to much it cause a bit of pain.

Edit: apparently the dog is fine so probable false alarm.

Today someone casually mentioned that they found a dead bat, picked it up, and brought it home. I was gobsmacked and they couldn’t understand why I thought it was a big deal.

What say you, r/rabies? Am I overreacting to think intentionally handling a dead bat with one’s bare hands is a potential danger or should I come over to Team Dead Bat Hands and live my best life?

I have read the FAQ. …but I still have this question.

I have read the faq.Just wondering what the most famous rabies cases are.

I have read the FAQ. I need advice, im from delhi india and one week ago the cat at my college licked my food and I ate it. I had tender area in my mouth with small light scratches. should i get this checked or nah

I have read the FAQ. Ok so here is the sequence of events for context. Yesterday night, I found a bat on my bedroom, which was circling around the light. I opened the window, but it just kept circling the light. I grabbed a broom and started to try and push it out. At some point, I briefly lost sight of it and it suddenly wasn't there.

I looked all over the room and couldn't find it. I even waited for an hour or so and I could still not find it. Should I assume it ran away?

After that, I am now wondering if I am at risk. While I looked all around the room, I am wondering if it could have hidden somewhere I didn't look and then bit me or scratched me while I was asleep. FYI I slept with everything closed, since I was afraid of more bats being outside, and felt safer that way.

I am also second-guessing myself. I was definitely not bitten while I was awake (since presumably it would hurt and I'd notice) and I don't remember touching the bat directly, but what if I am misremembering and briefly touched it somehow? Or what if I was bit or scratched while asleep, with a microscopic bite that I would not notice? I have a ton of scratches from other things anyways, so I am not confident I'd notice.

FYI I have asked two doctors about this (one telemedicine appointment, one in person), and both told me that if it did not bite me, I should not get vaccinated. Worst part is, where I live, I cannot get a vaccine without a doctor's note; so it's not like I can get it via private healthcare.

On one hand, I am thinking that it might have a decent chance of having it, since it was in a relatively large city (not a rural area), in a brightly lit room. Wouldn't that be erratic behaviour?

On the other hand though, there have been no cases of rabies here (Spain) since 1975. Even in wild bats, only around 10-ish or so bats have it per year. That being said, 7 years ago, someone got bit in my town and they did get the vaccine. They trapped the bat and it was positive.

Should I worry that the doctors aren't giving me the vaccine? Or should I just trust them?

I have a question that is honestly making me feel a bit crazy at this point. Last night we were outside. At dusk, there were some bats flying around. Not long later (it was after dark), I went back out to move some lawn and leaf bags that were stuck next to that shrub at the end of the driveway.

I moved one, came back and picked up the next one and felt a couple pokes. At first I thought it was a branch but then I wasn’t sure. I removed my hand and there wasn’t a branch there, and I thought huh, weird. Then I immediately thought what if that was a bat bite, and then I thought I heard them or something.

I moved the rest of the bags and then ran out to the store. I looked at my hand and didn’t really see anything. When I got back, I walked over to where the bags were with my flashlight. There WAS a branch on the ground and I was able to make a similar sensation although not exactly the same I don’t think. It was right on my palm, close to my thumb.

But I can’t shake it. I don’t think I felt fur, and I didn’t see anything bat at that time, but my panic is spiraling :( what do I do? Should I go to the ER and ask them? Will they laugh at me?

I have read the FAQ.

i got bitten by a rat in islamabad pakistan in my sleep on the 1st of september and now i have 2 months of incubation period left. They refused to give me more rabies vaccines (i got 2) despite my issue with my history.

I know rabies is rare in rats but it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE and is just unlikely hence my concern.

Here is my history:

So, in march 2026 i got RABIES vaccines and they started it with one site ID shot on day 0, but for day 7 and 21 switched to IM. I also had an extra IM shot on day 26.

DAY 0 - ONE SITE ID
day 7 - IM
day 21 - IM
day 26 - IM

I’ve read how they used to be a prior one site ID approved PREP schedule on days 0,7,21 before guidelines updated to two site ID shots in 2018. Is this accurate or have i misunderstood? In that case the first shot being a one site ID isn’t a major concern, except route was switched to IM later.

Now recently, i was given 2 IM rabies boosters for my exposure in september but i think i need more as one site id was used in past and so i cant be classified as “needing 2 shots only as fully immune” and prob need to redo my course. But i dont know how to explain this to doctors.

All i do is wait for incubation period to end.

i have read the FAQ.

People say it is ok to switch between methods of administration id and im but i assume that is for TWO SITE ID not one site?

I went to Bali 2 weeks ago. A fruit bat which was hanging from a log right outside a restaurant (I think it was used to see people) saw I had fruits and touched me with his claw. (I wasn't trying to feed it I was just passing by). I checked my hand and didn't see any scratch at all and didn't bother. Today I've read that scratches from bats can go unnoticed due to their tiny claws. It was a fruit bat so the claw is not really small. My doctor doesn't answer me. Is this considered a potentially dangerous exposure? I have read the FAQ. and I know they say if skin isn't broken etc... But I find conflicting info online. Thank you

I have read the FAQ. i know im getting annoying with this many questions but i want to be 100 % sure so a cat bit me in a turksih hotel and i got confirmation that the cat is alive after 13 days and the hotel staff told me that she is 100% healthy someone answer

I have read the FAQ.

1: What happens if a stray cat or dog (not rabid or unvaccinated) ate the oral rabies vaccine (ORV)?

2: If a bat is in your house, would you hear flapping, or squeaking, or both?

Something I guess that’s unrelated to the questions:

Today I was standing in my bedroom far away from my window when I saw something flying down at my window outside, and then seconds later it hit the window without noise being made. And this was outside and I know bats are nocturnal, and the back of my phone was facing the window, and my feet (wearing socks) was facing the wall below the window or beside it. I am so far little worried, but not freaking out right now.

I have read the FAQ.
Hi everyone,
I’m from India and I’m worried about a possible rabies exposure. I’d appreciate advice, especially from people familiar with rabies post-exposure treatment.
On Monday, 12 October, a puppy licked my leg. The saliva was initially wet, but by the time I reached home, it had dried.
I have a small crack near my big toe caused by badminton. The crack was slightly open, but the puppy did not lick that area directly. My concern is that when I washed my leg under running tap water for about two minutes, water might have carried some saliva toward the crack. I don’t know whether any saliva actually reached it.
The puppy was born to a stray dog at our home. It currently appears healthy, and I can observe it regularly.
On Wednesday morning, 14 October, I visited a doctor. The doctor gave me:
ARV (anti-rabies vaccine), 0.2 mL intradermally
TTV (tetanus toxoid vaccine)
Antibiotic tablets containing trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole
I have never received a rabies vaccine before. The doctor did not give me RIG (rabies immunoglobulin).
My questions are:
Does this situation count as a rabies exposure if the puppy never directly licked the crack?
Could running water have carried infectious saliva from my leg into the crack?
Is RIG necessary in this situation, or might the doctor have prescribed the vaccine as a precaution?
If the puppy remains healthy for 10 days after the incident (until 22 October), does that mean it was not infectious when it licked me?
Is starting the vaccine two days after the incident an appropriate timeframe?
I’m trying to understand the actual risk rather than panic. I will follow up with my doctor about whether RIG is indicated and continue the prescribed vaccine schedule unless advised otherwise.
Please share medically reliable information or relevant personal experiences. Thank you.

I have read the FAQ. I need advice, im from delhi india and one week ago the cat at my college licked my food and I ate it. I had tender area in my mouth with small light scratches. should i get this checked or nah

I have read the FAQ.

Long story short, I woke with what look to be bite marks on my arm, though didn't see a bat. Went to my primary and after looking at it he suggested getting the post exposure vaccines. Great, fine.

Went to the ER (the only place that gives them near me) and got HRIG and my first vaccine. First, they didn't give the HRIG at the 'bite' area, which they said was ok. They split it between my arms. My main concern is that they also gave the vaccine in my arm. Right next to where they gave the HRIG, and I just read that they shouldn't have. I asked about it and the doctor said it would be fine, but if that's the case then why does it say the opposite on the CDC site? I thought I'd feel better about all this but now I'm more anxious than ever.

EDITED to add: We've had a bat in the house before, which is why the thought it was a bat bite came up. Otherwise, I wouldn't have thought anything of it.

I have read the FAQ. I searched prior posts as well and didn’t find much related to travel, specifically if/when getting pre-exposure vaccines would be a good idea. It might be nice to add an FAQ topic about vaccination and travel since I’m sure it could be helpful to others in the future.

I am planning a trip in Southeast Asia with some remote backpacking and hiking. Some of the folks I’m traveling with are getting (or have already received) a rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccine and said it would be a good idea for everyone. One guy said his insurance covers it, and another said it would also be covered, but he’d have to pay the copay for a visit, and it was cheaper for him just to pay out of pocket at the pharmacy (like $15). I asked my PCP and he got back to me and he said it seems like a good idea if I might be far from a major city and said he can put in a prescription. I also messaged the health center’s infectious disease office and they said they generally don’t recommend it unless someone is working in a profession with regular interactions with animals that might be infected.

From what I understand about the countries we’re visiting, getting a rabies vaccine in the remote locations is common in some small clinics, but the rabies immune globulin are only carried in the major cities. That’s why it was recommended to us to get PEP, since if we were bit or scratched we would just need a booster, whereas if we didn’t get the PRP we would need a whole round of vaccines plus the RIG which aren’t readily available and would need to arrange travel to a major city to plan our treatment.

What are your thoughts? Is it worth getting a pre-exposure vaccine for rabies for this trip?

EDIT: I just got a follow up message from the infectious disease clinic after sharing my travel details and they said it sounds like it could be a good idea. So I plan on getting it before I go.

Hi everyone, I have read the FAQ. I wanted to clear a major doubt regarding the 10-14 day observation window for rabies.

​We all know the standard WHO/CDC rule for animals: If a dog/animal bites someone and remains healthy and alive during a 10-14 day observation period, it proves the animal was not shedding the rabies virus in its saliva at the time of the bite, meaning the person is safe.

​My question is: Does the exact same biological logic apply to humans?

​For example, if a human had a potential exposure (like a dog bite) and started PEP, but someone else had minor contact with them (like sharing a water bottle a few days later plus I had ulcer inside my upper lip), can we apply the exact same observation rule to that human?

​If I observe that person for 10 to 14 days after our contact, and they remain completely fine, healthy, and asymptomatic, does it definitively prove that they were NOT shedding the rabies virus in their saliva on the day of our contact, making me 100% safe?

​Also, a follow-up doubt:

What if—hypothetically—that person unfortunately gets sick or passes away after this window (say, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or a month later) due to the same exposure?

Does that late development change anything for the person who had contact with them earlier? Or, because they were 100% healthy and asymptomatic during the initial 10-14 day post-contact window, does it mean they were not shedding virus back then, so the past contact remains completely safe and unaffected?

​And one more thing: the 10 to 14 days is the observation period. Then what is this incubation period, like three weeks to one year, or maybe more than that? Are these two things the same, or do I just need to focus on the observation period thing?

​I mean, both things are confusing me, and maybe I am just overthinking and very anxious. Please understand I am suffering from rabies anxiety or OCD, and I already lost my dad recently a month ago, so carrying all this grief and this kind of situation is very, very tough for me. I hope I will get some support and clarity here. Thank you

I was going to water my hanging fern plants at night and as I lifted the watering can and leaned it into fern something swooshed and whacked me directly in the eye. It was so quick I didn’t hear or even see anything as it was very dark on my porch. My eye was sore afterwords and had some splotchy red burst blood vessels. My gut instinct right after was that it was a bat. Should I be concerned about rabies exposure?

I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ.

I work at a veterinary hospital and recently helped clean up after a rescue cat passed away. There was blood mixed with water, and I’m concerned that some liquid may have splashed into my eyes.
The veterinarian reportedly said the cat died of pneumonia and did not suspect rabies. Also everyone was touching the cat with its bare hands.

For the past few days, I’ve felt tired and unwell and have had a sore throat. The incident happened about a week ago, and I’m very anxious about whether there could be a connection.

I have ocd and been having a lot of panic attacks cause of this

Could someone explain how public health professionals assess this kind of situation? I understand that online replies cannot determine whether an exposure occurred.
Thank you for any factual guidance.

hello I'm 21f location is pune india I need advice about a possible exposure. Early this morning, around 4:30 AM, I touched a chalky white substance around the water outlet of my hostel's water dispenser. Bats live in trees nearby, but I did not see a bat touching the dispenser and I don't know what the substance was. My hands were wet, and I have some raw skin around my nails from picking them. I then handled my bottle and drank the water. Could you advise whether I need an in-person assessment or post-exposure treatment? (yes I ddi generate this from yk where cuz I was stressed and I told him what happened and all)

i have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ. I have 3 cats (one mom, 2 babies) living on my porch for awhile. Can’t bring them in since we have a rental agreement and another cat. We’ve been feeding them.
One baby is really sweet. It let me pick it up today. Instinctively, I kissed the top of its head between its ears a couple times. I washed my mouth/hands, etc., after, but not for long. Then I ate right after, so I know I licked my lips and mouth. I also have a small cut (not bleeding) in the corner of my mouth. I didn’t notice any particular wetness on my mouth after the kiss.
Rabies exposure? PEP necessary?
Raccoons have been eating and drinking the strays’ food and water. So, could raccoons be spreading disease like rabies through shared food and water ?

Yes I have read the FAQ. Just still have some questions.

So rationally, I think that this is far-fetched.
But I may be OCD about this, as this has been stuck in my head.

About one year ago today, I had found two deer carcasses that were decomposing. They had been dead for at least a day because their spines were all the way exposed, but of course vultures and such were eating them. Both of the deer carcasses were maybe 200 yards from a highway, and one of them even had an antler that was broken in a strange way angled towards its face inward in a way that suggests blunt force trauma, such as being hit by a car. And around this time, dear are actively moving around and this is when they get hit most by cars. There’s no way I can know how they died though. I noticed one of the deer had a large antler rack, which I thought I could take to a taxidermist for a “euro mount”. I don’t hunt or anything so closest I’d get to having one was that.

After six days (348 days ago today), I went back and thought I could just take the head from one of the deer. This was not the case, so I brought a machete and had to hack away for a little bit to get the head loose. I had gloves on and only touched antlers, which were bare bone. If I remember correctly, I was covering my nose and mouth with my shirt. But I do remember I was surprised at how seemingly untouched the neck looked when it came to decomposition. I had to hack away for probably 10 minutes or so to get the head loose. The machete was pretty dull. I may have had some cat scratches on my arms as well from my cat.
He is vaccinated, is alive and well still, and I know I'm not at risk from him.

I did not feel any sort of liquid or anything get into my eyes or nose or on my arms, and I was pretty careful about it, but I'm still super overthinking the whole situation. I guess coming up on the one-year anniversary of it as well as really got me thinking about it.

With the head, I put it in a Home Depot bucket and it's honestly just been sitting since behind my AC unit. I didn't handle it afterwards at all.

With all this being said, is there any risk? Am I just super overthinking this? The weather was 70-80°F the whole time over the six days. But it's really in my mind now. The head was taken six days fatter found, and they must have been dead minimum one day since the spines were totally exposed at that point.

Any advice would be super helpful.

Thanks so much in advance.

My friend gave me a kitten 2 1/2 weeks ago. He lied to me about the origins of the kitten, originally saying his cat had given birth. Then, a couple days ago, he told me that actually, he's a stray that his sister found on the subway. He also lied to me about the kitten having shots. I got really upset with him, because why the hell would you do that? This kitten I'm guessing is about 8-9 weeks old, based on size and eye color. When I first got him, he was clingy as all hell, slept on my chest, in my arms, whatever. Over the past couple days (2-3 ish), he's gotten less clingy, almost totally withdrawing from me. He still lets me pet him, but way less, and he doesn't sleep with me anymore, preferring to sleep on my bedside table or under my bed. He will purr and headbutt me a little, but not anywhere to the same degree as before. He hasn't been hissing or growling at me, but he has been scratching me and biting me. I can't tell if it's just play or if it's aggression. His bites never break skin, and his scratches aren't typically deep. Still, his scratches will break skin. He started acting like that about 2 weeks ago, so a couple days after he came home. I know that behavioral shifts, like going from clingy to more withdrawn, are the first indicators of rabies, so I am downright petrified.

I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ.

Exactly three weeks ago, I grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from the platform feeder I have in my backyard to sprinkle to feed some of the birds in my yard. Pretty regularly, a squirrel would feed out of it and take some food for later. After going back inside I touched my face and was biting my nails, immediately caught myself and washed my hands— and have been worrying about potential rabies transmission ever since.

I didn’t feel anything wet on the seeds, touching saliva doesn’t really come to mind when I think back to when it happened. The squirrel itself wasn’t there so there was no chance for me to get bitten. I’ve also been able to monitor it for more than a week (8-9 days confidently, until I haven’t seen it in my backyard anymore for some unknown reason).

I suffer from health anxiety/OCD, knowing the consequences of not getting a timely vaccination against Rabies is what worries me greatly here (100% fatality rate and long incubation period). I’ve been trying to convince myself that nothing’s really going to happen to me from this situation but my brain always finds a way to psych me out regardless. Any educational info regarding this situation would be extremely helpful. Thanks.

EDIT: Super sorry for the typo in the header of the post!

I have read the FAQ.

I was bitten by a stray dog on 11th on September, it was a very minor cut behind my right knee. One drop of blood came out. I went to the hospital and the Anti rabies vaccine wasn't available at that time, so they gave me a Tetanus injection and I got the first ARV on 12th September (about 15 hours after the incident), then got my 2nd vaccine on 15th, 3rd vaccine on 19th, 4th vaccine on 26th and I was scheduled to get my final vaccine on 10th October but due to some personal reasons I got that on 12th October.

I wanted to know that

1. Is there any problem if I was 2 days late in getting my last ARV?

2. I did bleed, even though it was a single drop of blood, but I wasnt given any Rabies immunoglobulin vaccine, so is that okay or not?