Animals that do and don’t transmit Rabies

Animals that do and don’t transmit Rabies
Rabies is a fatal disease and the cause of transmission of this disease is dog-bite in 96 per cent of cases.
Several organisms other than a dog can also transmit Rabies and certain animals that are mistakenly known to be a cause of transmission of rabies but in fact, they are not, for example, Usually, it is thought that rat bite can also transmit rabies. But it is not true, rat bite doesn’t transmit disease.
Following is the list of those animals that can transmit rabies to humans when they bite.

1. Dog, dog-bite is found to be the cause of transmission of rabies in 96% of cases. Other organisms that may transmit rabies include;
2. Bat
3. Wolf
4. Monkey
5. Fox
6. Cat
7. Mongoose
8. Mule
9. Horse and
10. Buffalo

Now if any person is bitten by any of the above organisms, then prophylactic measures to prevent rabies should be started as soon as possible. Rabies is a fatal disease once its sign and symptoms appear, then nothing can be done and the person ultimately dies.
It is very important that hospital staff should know which organism can transmit the rabies virus and which can’t. So now you have the list of those organisms that can transmit rabies.
Now below is the list those of animal can’t transmit rabies. So it is not necessary to vaccinate the individual, or adopting other prophylactic measures after getting a bite of any of the below animals.

1. Birds
2. Rabbit
3. Rat
4. Amphibians (turtles, other sea animals)
5. Fish Reptiles.

Reference:

• Guidelines for Human Rabies Prevention in Pakistan by Dr Naseem Salahuddin, Rabies in Asia Foundation, Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan