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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in HealthDiseases & ConditionsInfectious Diseases · 8 years ago

How long does the Rabies virus survive outside the host in Freezing temps?

So today my dog killed a rabbit (That's my best guess anyway, hard to tell now) and got blood on her face. I know rabies is transmitted through saliva and not blood but if my dog ate the animal then it probably got saliva on it too. I touched it when I was cleaning her off and didn't think much about it until now. There is a chance that it got into my eyes and mouth because my dog doesn't like baths too much and splashed around like a maniac.

Long story short, I know that the rabies virus dies in a matter of seconds in mild-hot temps. But I know that it can also live indefinitely in a dead hosts body in say a freezer (There was an experiment in which an animal with rabies was put in a freezer and after 2 years was still active). The temp today was below freezing and would of been the ideal temp for the rabies virus to thrive.

Pretty much every website I've been too says it dies in seconds unless its cold so I'm just wondering what its life span is if it was cold. I'm sure its not too long because then it would be an epidemic but you never know lol.

So what are my odds of being infected with this almost eradicated disease in the middle of suburban American lol.

2 Answers

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  • 8 years ago
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    Chris, while higher temperatures and heat readily destroy viruses, freezing is very commonly used to preserve viruses, many for many years. Viruses are NOT live animals. Call your local County Health Department and ask how often rabies in rabbits in your area is reported. IT is a mandatory reportable disease. Likely it is rare in rabbits. A local vet doctor would also know. Even one local case is reported in the headlines locally. Besides, rabies infection almost always involves a deep bite. It is extremely rare when the rabies virus infects by a splash in the open eye. And, if the virus was present even a short while on the dog, by the time you got splashed it would have most likely died. Now, sleep peacefully, if you can.

    Source(s): a medical professional
  • 8 years ago

    It doesn't survive exposure to air either.

    Plus rabbits are not high risk for rabies.

    Source(s): RN
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