Rabies is an acute infectious disease caused by the rabies virus, transmitted to humans through scratches, bites, or licks on open wounds or mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth. The rabies virus is commonly found in the saliva of warm-blooded mammals such as dogs, cats, rats, squirrels, bats, bears, ferrets, and rabbits.

Rabbits, as herbivores, generally pose a low risk of rabies virus transmission. However, as warm-blooded mammals, they can contribute to the risk of human infection. In the wild, rabbits can contract rabies from other wild animals like rats, dogs, cats, and squirrels, potentially transmitting the disease to humans through bites or scratches.

Although rabbits eat only grasses and vegetables, they are warm-blooded mammals and thus belong to the group of animals that can transmit the rabies virus to humans. *Photo: Vecteezy*

The incubation period for rabies typically ranges from two to eight weeks, though it can be as short as 10 days or extend to several months, or even over a year. A shorter incubation period is associated with more severe wounds, especially those close to the brain, nervous system, extremities, or genitals. Once the virus enters the body, it replicates at the site before attacking the central nervous system, spinal cord, and brain, leading to a nearly 100% fatality rate.

You should immediately clean the wound thoroughly under running water with soap for 15 minutes, then disinfect it with iodine or povidone alcohol. Seek medical consultation from a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will determine the appropriate vaccination regimen based on the wound's characteristics, the animal's condition, and your vaccination history. Avoid squeezing blood from the wound or applying traditional remedies like leaves. A bleeding rabbit bite can lead to infection, potentially allowing tetanus bacteria, commonly found in soil, to enter and cause illness. Therefore, you may also need a tetanus vaccine.

Currently, Vietnam uses two types of rabies vaccines, one from France and one from India, which can be administered for both pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis. For individuals who have been bitten or scratched and are not vaccinated, the post-exposure regimen involves either five intramuscular doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28; or eight intradermal doses on days 0, 3, 7, and 28. In cases of severe wounds, especially those near the head, face, neck, or extremities, or if the animal shows signs of rabies and cannot be observed, additional rabies immunoglobulin may be necessary.

For pre-exposure rabies vaccination, the regimen consists of three intramuscular or intradermal doses. If you have already completed a full rabies vaccination regimen from a previous bite or a pre-exposure series, subsequent bites or scratches will require two booster doses on days 0 and 3, without the need for rabies immunoglobulin.

Doctor of First Degree Specialist Danh Thi My Hong (Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System)

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