Can rabies be transferred through food?

Although no human cases have been documented following the consumption of uncooked meat from a rabid animal, butchering or eating a rabid animal may potentially transmit rabies.

Can rabies stay on surfaces?

How long can the rabies virus survive in the environment? The rabies virus is fragile under most normal conditions. It is destroyed within a few minutes at temperatures greater than 122°F, and survives no more than a few hours at room temperature.

Can rabies be spread through touch?

Bite and non-bite exposures from an infected person could theoretically transmit rabies, but no such cases have been documented. Casual contact, such as touching a person with rabies or contact with non-infectious fluid or tissue (urine, blood, feces), is not associated with risk for infection.

Can you get rabies from eating something that has rabies?

No, you cannot be infected with the rabies virus by ingesting anything, not even an animal WITH rabies or food drooled on by a rabid animal. The rabies virus is very unstable, and dies upon exposure to the environment.

Can you get rabies from petting a rabid animal?

Other types of contact, such as petting a rabid animal or contact with the blood, urine or feces of a rabid animal, are not associated with risk for infection and are not considered to be exposures of concern for rabies. Other modes of transmission—aside from bites and scratches—are uncommon.

Is it safe to eat food from cats with rabies?

If by some chance the cats carried rabies and nibbled at your food, then they are not yet at a point in the disease to shed virus, so you should be safe on that regard at least.

Can you get rabies from a scratch?

People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, but rare, for people to get rabies from non-bite exposures, which can include scratches, abrasions, or open wounds that are exposed to saliva or other potentially infectious material from a rabid animal.