Does rabies transmission occur through a dog bite?

Question

Hello doctor,

1. How long does the rabies virus stay in the human wound caused by a dog bite or scratch?

2. Does the infection in the wound goes away, similar to any inanimate object? Or it remains infectious for longer?

Please explain.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

There has been no documented case of wound-to-wound transmission of the rabies virus. It is transmitted from the bite of a rabid animal and, in rare cases, through organ transplantation. Coming to your question, it can be assumed that the rabies virus may be viable for a more extended period on a wound compared to inanimate objects. Still, its infectivity through this mode has not been documented. The concentration of the virus in the wound may be too low to cause infection.

Thank you.