• Pandantic [they/them]@midwest.social
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    1 month ago

    Your reminder that rabies has no symptoms until it’s too late, and its a awful disease to die of. If you find a bat in your house and there is any chance it bit you (sometimes its hard to tell), go get a rabies shot series

    • assaultpotato@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      It doesn’t even need to bite you. Licking, scratching, anything that results in saliva contact is a candidate for rabies transmission. If you come into contact with a bat or may have come into contact with a bat or other wild animal, go get your vaccination.

      You typically have some time to do so but earlier is always better.

      • PattyMcB@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Yep… any bodily fluid contact (especially saliva - the bat was on the kid’s nose and mouth)

    • Malyca@lemmy.zip
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      1 month ago

      Takes a whole month and involves giant needles but absolutely worth it. I had to do it at 3 years old and I still remember that shit like it was yesterday. I wonder if I’ll carry immunity for life now or if I’ll need to do it again if I come into contact with questionable animals?

      • pomegranatefern@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        You’ll need to do it again if you come into contact with questionable animals. Having a sufficiently recent rabies vaccine (and I expect you are well past that window) means you don’t need the immunoglobin that non-vaccinated people get at the start of their rabies treatment for a head start on fighting the virus, but you do still need follow-up shots. Though I’ve heard the immunoglobin is usually the most unpleasant part of the process.

        • Malyca@lemmy.zip
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          1 month ago

          Regardless, I’ll be staying away from any situations that could result in rabies. Thank you for the info.