How long can the rabies virus live in liquid outside of the host?
If an animal that was infected with rabies drooled into, and a piece of them (dead), was in a liquid, how long could the virus survive in a wet environment without an active host?
If an animal that was infected with rabies drooled into, and a piece of them (dead), was in a liquid, how long could the virus survive in a wet environment without an active host?
Richard C
The question is based on the premise that the liquid cannot simulate or equate with 'an active host,' which itself seems questionable(?).
daniel g
Depends on the liquid and its temperature. The virus can't survive a cooler host. Why opossums are resistant, they have a colder body temperature.
Gray Bold
The virus cannot live outside of the body for more than a couple of seconds, which is good news. Live virus, however, can be found in deceased animals for as long as 48 hours.
?
If there was a big puddle of saliva or blood from an animal it might survive for 24 hours after the liquid had dried. Now simply touching the saliva or the blood on your undamaged skin would not automatically give you rabies.. but you would certainly want to immediately wash your hands or any body parts that contacted such a thing. With hot soapy water and then dry with a towel and wash down the inside of the tub with the sprayer.
You might then want to ask a doctor hey doc I stepped in a pile of rabid dog spit. I don't have any cuts on my feet do I need rabies vaccine.
It's always to be safe than sorry in this circumstance
Anonymous
Viruses are barely alive anyway. they don't move, eat, breathe, metabolise or excrete
If there's nothing in the liquid that takes the virusmolecule apart (alcohol, bleach, soap) and there's no (UV)radiation doing that, it probably can last pretty long