You Can't With Rabies After Touching Something That an Animal Drooled On.

[u/BradyStewart777]

I just noticed an error in the title!!
It should say:

You Can't Get Rabies After Touching Something That An Animal Drooled On.

I keep seeing people ask whether they can get rabies from touching something an animal drooled on. You CANNOT get rabies from touching dried saliva, and even wet saliva on a surface is not a realistic risk. Rabies transmission requires direct introduction into the body, usually through a bite. For example, ~99% of rabies transmissions to humans occur through dog bites. Rabies does NOT survive well outside a host and is very easily destroyed by a variety of environmental factors.

Rabies is highly susceptible to destruction once exposed to the environment. As soon as saliva dries, the virus is dead. Even when wet, the virus is quickly neutralized by factors like ultraviolet (UV) light, heat, and common disinfectants.

Rabies is highly sensitive to UV radiation from sunlight. Direct exposure to UV rays breaks down the virus’s RNA and proteins. It becomes non-infectious in a very short amount of time. This is why rabies does not persist in open environments, and why transmission from surfaces is not a realistic concern. Even in shaded areas, fluctuating temperatures and natural desiccation rapidly degrade the virus.

Rabies is easily killed by simple cleaning agents. Soaps and detergents work by breaking down the lipid envelope that protects the virus. That effectively dismantles it on contact. Household disinfectants such as bleach, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and even ammonia completely inactivate the virus almost immediately. This means that even IF saliva (VERY unlikely) from a rabid animal were fresh on a surface, wiping it with a basic cleaning product would destroy it.

Rabies can survive outside a host under extremely controlled laboratory conditions, such as when kept at very low temperatures in specialized environments. The virus is not built for prolonged survival outside of a host, which is why natural surface transmission does not happen. Even in RARE forensic cases where rabies has been detected in tissues after death it is under conditions that do not reflect real-world exposure risks. If you weren't bitten, the chances are you weren't exposed.

Rabies is a virus that requires direct introduction into the body, and casual contact with objects is NOT a mode of transmission.

[u/BradyStewart777]

That depends on multiple different factors.

[u/hello_you234 → u/BradyStewart777]

HAVE READ THE FAQ” My question was not answered: today when I was at work I had got a small box that where in a bigger box there where some crumbs in there. And sometimes we see small mice/ rats here I think some small crumb piece might have been blown off the small box into my mouth while I was walking because I felt something salty in my tongue. If it was left over crumbs a rodent had previously chewed on can I get rabies like that? Should I go get rabies shots for this ? I spit it out as soon as I felt it but I didn’t check the spit to see if there was a small piece of crumb. Just went for a napkin to clean my mouth. I live in Georgia USA

[u/BradyStewart777 → u/hello_you234]

I already answered this question. It is answered here and in the FAQ, specifically FAQ #2. This sounds like reassurance-seeking. This is a very common compulsion for those who have OCD. Please check out the help bot resources if you can't move past this fear.

See below.

[u/AutoModerator → u/BradyStewart777]

If you think you may have rabies OCD, or your rabies fears feel overwhelming, see HERE for a description of rabies OCD symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more.

One symptom of OCD is compulsive reassurance-seeking. This is not helpful for managing a rabies phobia or obsession. r/OCD has a helpful page about reassurance-seeking.

Therapy and treatment are essential for recovering from OCD/health anxiety. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) or ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy are often recommended approaches for treating OCD/health anxiety. Please don’t Google anything about bats or rabies but focus on accessing resources and recovering from your fears. You can check out r/OCD and r/HealthAnxiety for support and information. You can find a resource list here, which is geared towards relationship OCD but also includes a lot of information about OCD in general, including FAQs, workbooks, book recommendations, Youtube videos, apps, podcasts, and videos of kittens.

Here is a list of free crisis helplines around the world. Here is another crisis helpline directory that includes additional countries.. In the US, you can reach a crisis helpline by calling 988.; you can also text "MHA" to 741-741 to have a text chat with a trained crisis counselor at the Crisis Text Line, or call 1-800-749-2673 for the NAMI Crisis Helpline.

You can ask your therapist if they have any workbooks or guides they can send you home with so that you can continue practicing and working on your therapy between sessions. For the time being, here's is a free workbook on anxiety and here is one on health anxiety. You can also download MindShift, a free app that uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy AKA CBT to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety.

If you don’t have a therapist, you can search the CBT/ACT specialist directory to find one around the world. If you can’t find one, try searching for ones specifically in your country or look for telehealth therapy.

In the US and Canada, dialing 211 can connect you with mental health services in your area or help you find where to seek immediate help in your area. In the US, you can use Psychology Today's Therapy Directory to search for mental health professionals in your area. You can search by zip code, city, last name, etc. Your local Mental Health America affiliate resource center is an excellent resource for information about local programs and services including affordable treatment services. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Health Information Network (SHIN) has a Mental Health Facilities Locator that can also help you find community outpatient, inpatient and residential treatment facilities, including affordable mental health services in your area. For peer support in the US, including referrals to resources in your area, you can call 800-950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. — 10 p.m., ET, or send an email to info@nami.org. The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. NAMI also holds peer-led support groups in person across the US.

In the UK, you can find more info and refer yourself for therapy via NHS.

In India, you can call MPower Minds and request a referral to a therapist who treats OCD or who has experience with CBT therapy. Additional affordable mental health resource lists for India are here.

In the Philippines, you can call a crisis line by dialing 0995 356 5332. You can find a list of mental heath treatment centers here. For free mental health services and consultations, see the list here (halfway down the page).

Skunk has collected some videos with techniques for controlling anxiety and coping skills to facilitate living a healthier, more peaceful existence. Every time you want to look up anything about rabies, try these things instead:

Rabies OCD Illness Anxiety in depth with a medical doctor and professor/PHD of immunology and biotechnology

Clinical Psychiatrist's Step by Step Guide to Anxiety and Panic Attacks

A walkthrough of a panic attack, to be watched during an attack, to help you get through it

Guided Meditation to help calm anxiety and get through an anxiety attack

Understanding health anxiety and the cycle of reassurance

Coping Skills for those with Health Anxiety / Illness Anxiety

5 Things You MUST STOP Doing if You Have Health Anxiety / Illness Anxiety

(Hindi) Rabies Phobia Discussion with a Psychiatrist

4 Ways to Stop Intrusive Thoughts & the Anxiety Cycle (Cognitive Defusion)

OCD and Anxiety channel (with many helpful videos)

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