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Rabies Risk: Not Just Dogs! These 7 Animals Can Also Transmit the Deadly Virus
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News18•28-09-2026, 11:35
Rabies Risk: Not Just Dogs! These 7 Animals Can Also Transmit the Deadly Virus
- •Rabies is not exclusively transmitted by dog bites; other animals can also spread the deadly virus.
- •Cats, monkeys, bats, foxes, wolves, and mongooses can transmit rabies through bites or scratches.
- •According to WHO, approximately 99% of human rabies cases are caused by dog bites, but other animals pose a risk.
- •Rabies symptoms can appear weeks or months after exposure, and once visible, the disease is almost always fatal.
- •Immediately after an animal bite, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention promptly.
Key Questions Answered
While dogs account for approximately 99% of human rabies cases according to the WHO, other animals can also transmit the virus. These include cats, monkeys, bats, foxes, wolves, and wild animals like sick mongooses through bites, scratches, or infected saliva.
Immediately after an animal bite or scratch, you should thoroughly wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Following this, you must visit a doctor or a rabies treatment center promptly to receive a rabies vaccine if necessary.
Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. It can spread when an animal bites or scratches you, or if its infected saliva comes into direct contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, or an open wound.
