Vaccinated Dog Bite: What to Do & Safety Measures Expla
Many of us mistakenly believe that once a pet has been vaccinated, it is absolutely safe and there's no need to worry about getting a rabies shot if bitten by such a pet. This misconception is even shared by many experienced pet owners. However, this is a wrong assumption. Vaccination only ensures that the pet will not develop rabies, but if a pet already carries the rabies virus, a bite can still transmit the disease. This is akin to the difference between an AIDS patient and a carrier of the HIV virus.
Therefore, if you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by an unfamiliar pet, even if the pet has been vaccinated for rabies, it is crucial for your safety to seek medical attention promptly. Generally, receiving the vaccine within 24 hours is most effective. It's important to note that if the bite is deep or in a location close to the brain, such as the head or neck, you should also receive rabies immunoglobulin along with the vaccine.
While rabies is a disease that most people are somewhat familiar with, many still have a shallow understanding of it and hold numerous misconceptions. The first misconception is that the incubation period for rabies is extremely long. It's true that the incubation period for rabies is longer than for many other diseases, but it is by no means the decade or two as some myths suggest. The length of the incubation period is determined by the location of the bite and the amount of virus ingested.
The second misconception is that once you've been vaccinated for rabies, you don't need another shot. This is a particularly dangerous misconception, as many people avoid getting vaccinated due to it. In reality, the protection from the rabies vaccine lasts only for a short six months. After this period, if you are bitten, you will still need to receive the vaccine. Currently, rabies can only be prevented, and there is no cure for it after the disease has developed. So, please don't be complacent or negligent!
The Spring Festival is a time of joy and celebration. I hope everyone returns home happily and safely. I would advise everyone to exercise caution when encountering unknown pets. Don't let your kindness lead to risky physical contact with them, as this could prevent any unexpected bite incidents.
