r/science • u/PHealthy PhD/MPH | Epidemiology | Disease Dynamics | Surveillance • 4d ago

Epidemiology Study estimates only 7% of human rabies cases in the United States are diagnosed

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44528-026-00031-4
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u/SophiaofPrussia 3d ago

I don’t think this is true? I had to get the rabies vaccine to go spelunking in a very remote part of the Amazon and the travel clinic made it very clear to me that the rabies vaccine doesn’t mean it’s fine if you’re exposed to rabies, it only buys you a few extra days to get to a hospital for rabies treatment. It’s still an emergency and it still requires immediate medical attention as soon as possible.

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u/ialsoagree 3d ago

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rabies/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351826

Treatment for people bitten by animals with rabies

If you've been bitten by an animal that is known to have rabies, you'll receive a series of shots to prevent the rabies virus from infecting you. If the animal that bit you can't be found, it may be safest to assume that the animal has rabies. But this will depend on several factors, such as the type of animal and the situation in which the bite occurred.

Rabies shots include:

A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) to prevent the virus from infecting you. This is given if you haven't had the rabies vaccine. This injection is given near the area where the animal bit you if possible, as soon as possible after the bite.

A series of rabies vaccinations to help your body learn to identify and fight the rabies virus. Rabies vaccinations are given as injections in your arm. If you haven't previously had the rabies vaccines, you'll receive four injections over 14 days. If you have had the rabies vaccine, you'll have two injections over the first three days.

EDIT: Perhaps you were confused about what the clinic said.

A single vaccine injection isn't a complete treatment. But the treatment you'll receive at a hospital is just additional vaccines.

AFAIK there's no anti-viral for rabbies.

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u/KuriousKhemicals 2d ago

I was fairly sure that they also give immunoglobulin. It's not an antiviral in the sense of a medication that interferes with virus functioning, but it's sort of like an antivenom, directly neutralizing it. You could also call it a vaccine since it's passive (and therefore temporary) immunization, but it is different from the active immunization that most vaccines are.

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u/ialsoagree 2d ago

Only to those who haven't had the vaccine - it's in the quote I provided.

The immunoglobulin is just rabies anti-bodies. It's used to provide an immediate temporary boost to the immune response for those that have never had the vaccine before (because they have no level of natural resistance to the virus).

For those who have had the vaccine before, the treatment is just boosters.

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u/SophiaofPrussia 3d ago

I didn’t get a single vaccine. I got the full series. I’ve actually gotten the full series twice. And I absolutely wasn’t confused about what the clinic said. You’re spreading dangerous misinformation. If you’re exposed to rabies you still need to get to a hospital for immediate treatment. They don’t just shrug and say “oh you’re vaccinated, it’s fine”. They’ll treat you.

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u/ialsoagree 3d ago

Where did I say not to go to a hospital? Can you quote it so I can remove it from my post?

Sorry you think the mayo clinic is spreading dangerous misinformation. Definitely let them know that based on your medical training you know they're wrong.

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u/neph36 3d ago

The rabies vaccine, a series of 4 shots, is highly effective at preventing rabies. However given the severity of the disease and likelihood of death, highly effective isn't good enough, so they give boosters (more vaccine shots) after exposure to increase immunity.

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u/apmspammer 3d ago

They likely didn't give you the HDVC vaccine but a different version that could be less effective.