Can Rats Transmit Rabies to Humans?
WouterIt’s not completely clear if rats can transmit rabies to humans. While the disease is highly contagious, the transmission of rabies usually occurs through direct contact with the saliva of an infected animal. However, the disease can also be contracted from the mucus membranes of the eye or nose and from the brain tissue of an infected animal. Some people have also contracted the disease through scratches.
Whether or not rats can transmit rabies depends on the specific species. Although rabies can be transmitted between mammals, rat populations in the United States do not harbor the disease. The virus can be passed from warm-blooded animal to warm-blooded animal, but rat-to-rat transmission has been proven to be extremely unlikely.
Rabies is a contagious viral disease, which causes severe neurological symptoms. Its symptoms begin with a flu-like illness and progress to death and cerebral dysfunction. Several people have survived rabies, but it remains extremely dangerous to humans. There are no vaccines for rabies, and a patient who has been bitten by a rat must seek medical attention immediately.
The symptoms of a rat-bite fever will vary, but they can include a severe rash and muscle pain. In some cases, rat-bite fever can even lead to heart failure. In such cases, treatment should include high-dose penicillin or streptomycin.
