How long is the rabies virus infectious after it is outside of the rabid animal?
The rabies virus is a very fragile virus. As soon as the saliva dries the virus is no longer infectious. The virus is easily killed by soaps, detergents, bleach, alcohol and ultraviolet light What will happen to the animal after person has been bitten or otherwise exposed? NDDOH Rabies Exposure Assessment Algorithm (pdf) If the animal is a healthy domestic dog, cat or ferret it should be confined and held for observation for 10 days. A licensed veterinarian must examine the animal at the beginning and end of the 10-day observation period. If the animal develops symptoms suggestive of rabies, it should be humanely destroyed and the brain sent for testing. If the animal is healthy at the end of the 10-day period, then no rabies exposure occurred and the person bitten will not need rabies shots. If the animal is not a domestic dog, cat or ferret, it should be captured, humanely destroyed and the brain sent for rabies testing. If the animal is a domesticated farm animal (cow, horse, etc.),
