Can Rats Cause Rabies?

Many people wonder, “Can rats cause rabies?” The fact is that some rats do carry the rabies virus. This virus is transmitted from rat to rat via saliva that enters the rat’s bloodstream. However, it is rare for a rat to contract the disease. Most often, rabies is transmitted to rats by predatory animals. These animals are more likely to kill a rat than infect it. Rats can also be infected by their own saliva and from the bite of an infected animal. Because of their low survival rate, a rat with rabies fever is highly unlikely to transmit the disease to humans.

The most common symptoms of a rat bite include pain and redness in the area. The wound may also be filled with pus. Treatment for rat bite fever typically involves antibiotics. Symptoms often begin three to ten days after the rat bite. In some cases, they may last for up to three weeks.

Symptoms of rabies are similar to flu. However, they can progress to cerebral dysfunction and even death. Since only a few humans have survived rabies in the past two decades, it is important to seek immediate treatment if you have been bitten by a rat. However, there is no proof that a rat will cause rabies if it’s not infected.