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Can a cat bite lead to rabies?
Question
I am 25 years old and was bitten by a street cat some 5 years ago. I don’t know what was the status of that cat. Now a days, I am worried I may get rabies. Is there any chance I may get rabies after 5 long years? I don’t have any symptoms. What shall I do to get out of this psychological disturbance?
Expert Answer
A
Dr Anuj SharmaApr 25, 2007
World Health Organization,
Country Office for India,
New Delhi
Country Office for India,
New Delhi
The incubation period is the time from exposure to onset of clinical signs of disease. The incubation period in rabies may vary from a few days to several years, but is typically 1 to 3 months. There are only one or two cases reported in literature worldwide, in which rabies developed after a gap of >5 years. From a practical standpoint, your chances of developing rabies are nil. To stop worrying unnecessarily, a visit to a psychiatrist or a mental health counsellor may be useful.
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