“Rabies question?”
Hello, I would like to ask one question about rabies. I keep chickens in the yard and the fox ran into my yard and attacked the chicken. The fox released the chicken when she saw me and ran away because I threw a shoe at her and she was afraid of me. Then I immediately took the chicken in my hand and looked at it, but before I went to wash my hands, I reached for my cell phone and then I went to wash my hands, I'm afraid the chicken was wearing fox saliva. But then I took my cell phone back in my hand and then I reached into my mouth and scratched my nose. and when I looked at the chicken, I had a small scratch on my fingers that was a little bloody. it was a day-old scratch. It was not a deep blow, but a day old. Could I have contracted rabies like this?
Female
3 Answers
InfectiousDiseaseSpecialistInfectiousDiseaseSpecialist
It's very unlikely, but unfortunately is possible. However, since you washed your hands soon afterwards and the scratch on your hand was small and already a day old, the likelihood of you having rabies is extremely low to none. You should definitely be okay! However, if you are concerned, I would contact your physician, so you can undergo the prophylactic protocol.
The fox did not seem rabid. He/she was hunting for dinner, she recognized a threat, and appropriately ran away. But even a rabid fox would be unlikely to transmit the virus to you in this manner.
Low, but not no risk. Please call your local county health dept for further advice. Do not ignore, but do not panic. Call your county health dept ASAP.
Carl Lauter, MD, MACP, FAAAAI, FIDSA
Carl Lauter, MD, MACP, FAAAAI, FIDSA
