Do Rats Give Rabies?
WouterMany people are curious about the possibility of rat rabies, and this has led to a great deal of debate. Depending on the definition, as many as 10% of domestic and wild rats are infected with the Spirillum moniliformis virus. The disease is transmitted through contact with the saliva and urine of infected rats. Symptoms of rat rabies include red or purple plaques on the skin and a rash. In severe cases, the wound can become infected and the rat may die.
Rat rabies is not common in humans and the incubation period can be several weeks for larger animals. Since rats die quickly once infected, there is a small chance that a person will contract rabies from a rat. However, if you live in a community where raccoons, foxes, or other large animals are present, you may want to consider euthanizing your rat if you suspect it of rabies.
Rabies is a serious disease caused by an infection of the central nervous system. Although the symptoms can mimic flu at first, the symptoms progress to mental confusion, coma, and death. In fact, only 14 people have survived rabies in the last three years, and more than 59,000 people have died from rabies. If you have been bitten by a rat, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Rats and mice do not normally carry rabies. The scientific community is unsure if rats or mice can give rabies to humans. The virus is transmitted through a bite from a larger animal, and smaller rodents do not survive the bites of bigger animals. However, a 2014 case study described an allergic reaction in an animal caretaker after being bitten by a lab mouse. The caretaker developed a rash on his arms and swollen lips within five minutes. He was hospitalized, but his symptoms did not persist.
