Rabies virus survival time

I believe that many people will or have encountered such a situation in their lives, that is, sometimes when doing things or playing outside, they will be bitten by dogs or other animals accidentally. The reason for being bitten is usually because we tease them or other unintentional reasons. Once we are bitten by an animal, our family will immediately take us to the hospital to get rabies vaccination.

Perhaps many people are confused as to why they need to get a rabies shot if they are bitten by an animal, rather than just getting an inflammation or having other symptoms. In fact, the reason for getting rabies vaccine is to prevent us from contracting rabies and endangering our lives. So, let’s take a look at the survival time of the rabies virus.

Rabies virus is a serotype/genotype 1 virus in the genus Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae, while types 2 to 6 are called "rabies-related viruses" and are currently only found in Africa and Europe. The rabies virus constitutes a transmission link of rabies between wild animals (wolves, foxes, weasels, bats, etc.) and domestic animals (dogs, cats, cows, etc.) and humans. People are mainly infected after being bitten by sick or poisonous animals. Once infected, if effective prevention and control measures are not taken in time, it can lead to serious acute infectious diseases of the central nervous system with a high mortality rate. In developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, tens of thousands of people die from rabies every year.

Generally speaking, rabies virus can only survive in an oxygen-free state. If there is no covering, it will die in a few minutes. In fact, many people don’t know that the rabies virus is not very resistant and can be destroyed by sunlight, ultraviolet rays and ultrasound. Strong alkali, strong acid, potassium permanganate and iodine can cause death, and it will die quickly in 1% formalin or 70% alcohol. Gradually loses its infectivity after drying. It is sensitive to temperature. The virus can be completely killed by heating at 56℃ for one hour, 60℃ for 10-15 minutes, or 100℃ for only 2 minutes. But low temperature is a good living condition for viruses. The virus in the brain mass can be stored for several months at 4°C and for several years at -70°C, and still maintain its infectious properties.

Through understanding the above text, we have a better understanding of how harmful the rabies virus is. If we are bitten by a dog or other animal again in the future, we should not hesitate but go to the hospital for diagnosis as early as possible and get the rabies vaccine as soon as possible.