Can rats carry rabies?

Rabies is a serious infection spread when infected saliva enters broken skin or the eyes, mouth, or nose. A scratch that breaks the skin, a bite, or saliva on an open wound can matter. Touching a rat, seeing one nearby, or contact with intact skin is not the same type of exposure. Risk depends on the animal, the contact, and local public-health advice; do not try to catch or handle the animal yourself.

Wash a bite or scratch immediately with running water and soap, then cover it with a clean dressing. Avoid applying irritating chemicals or attempting to seal the wound. Contact an urgent-care service or clinician promptly and describe the animal, the time of contact, the wound, and whether saliva reached your eyes, mouth, or broken skin. A clinician may discuss rabies post-exposure prophylaxis and tetanus protection.

Seek urgent medical advice for any bite, skin-breaking scratch, or saliva exposure to a mucous membrane or open wound. Go promptly if the wound is deep, bleeding does not settle, the hand or face is involved, or redness, swelling, warmth, discharge, or fever develops. Do not wait for symptoms of rabies: once symptoms begin, the illness is difficult to treat.

Ask whether your contact counts as a rabies exposure, whether you need post-exposure prophylaxis, and whether tetanus or wound treatment is needed. Ask how to monitor the wound and whom to contact if the animal is identified.