Rabies fear after 1 and half Years

[anku]

1 and half Year back, I picked up a stray puppy, took it to my home and washed it. However, I am worrying now if I can get rabies from that incident, I remember that the puppy tried to bite my hand but I removed it quickly and there was nothing but it is coming to my mind what if it did.Also, I read that the virus can incubate for 25 years. Is that true?

[Carys]

The typical incubation period is three to eight weeks, but it can be as little as nine days or as long as several years in some rare cases.

....apparently.

You said the puppy didn't bite you though, it 'tried to' only, but now in your fear you are imagining it did. If it had bitten you, at the time you would have been concerned about it - but you weren't.

[anku]

Should i go for vaccine now? Will it even work?

[Carys]

You said the puppy didn't bite you though, it 'tried to' only, but now in your fear you are imagining it did. If it had bitten you, at the time you would have been concerned about it - but you weren't.

I don't know anything about rabies vaccines I'm afraid, maybe some of our US friends can help out? We don't have rabies in the UK you see. I don't see why you'd be considering it though after 1 and 1/2 years and you didn't get bitten.

[au Lait]

The incubation period is virtually never over a month. Maybe the idea that it could incubate for years came from some very rare case, though honestly it was probably a fluke. It’s just not something that happens. At any rate, you were never exposed to it so you are fine. No need to worry.

[Carys]

Thanks au lait!

[Fishmanpa]

This warrants the same response to the brain eating amoeba thread...

ummmm

Positive thoughts

[Carys]

FMP, explain this.......everyone who has posted about the brain eating amoeba is from the US. Has it been in the news there or something ?

[NervUs]

FMP, explain this.......everyone who has posted about the brain eating amoeba is from the US. Has it been in the news there or something ?

No, it has not been in the news. The news is too busy predicting our death by flu.

[Carys]

The news is too busy predicting our death by flu

Wahhhahhh, ok....cheerful times.