Response:
Rats, mice, field mice, bamboo rats, and many other wild rodents belong to the largest group of mammals, the Rodentia family. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all mammals can carry the rabies virus. Although there have been no documented cases of rats transmitting rabies to humans, they still pose a potential risk.
The rabies virus spreads through bites, scratches, or licks, with a nearly 100% fatality rate once symptoms appear. Currently, there is no specific treatment; vaccination and anti-rabies serum are the effective preventive measures.
In your case of a rat bite, it is recommended to receive five intramuscular vaccine doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28, or eight intradermal doses on days 0, 3, 7, and 28.
Vietnam currently offers two new generation rabies vaccines: Verorab (France) and Abhayrab (India), neither of which affects the nervous system.
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Rats are warm-blooded mammals that can carry the rabies virus. Photo: Vecteezy |
You can also receive pre-exposure vaccination if you are at high risk of rabies exposure or before a scratch or bite. This protocol involves three vaccine doses on day 0, 7, 21, or 28. Individuals who have completed the pre-exposure prophylaxis protocol or have received full doses from a previous bite only need two additional vaccine doses and no anti-rabies serum, even if the wound is severe.
Beyond rabies, a rat bite can also allow tetanus bacteria to enter the body. You may be advised to receive additional tetanus vaccine and anti-tetanus serum.
Tetanus-causing bacteria persist in environments such as soil, dirt, sewers, and human and animal feces. They can easily enter the body through open wounds. Since rats often live in damp, contaminated places, their bites carry a high risk of infection and tetanus.
Adults who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccination history is unknown should receive tetanus prevention according to a three-dose protocol, with a booster every 10 years. If fully vaccinated against tetanus, individuals with a large wound only require a single booster vaccine dose and do not need anti-tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG).
Dr. Bui Thanh Phong
Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System
Readers can submit vaccine consultation questions to the doctor here.
