Hi SomeoneWithQuestions,

Typically, transmission of Rabies from an animal occurs through a bite of an infected dog or less likely that of an infected cat/rodent. In such case, the virus travels along the blood vessels, then the nerve fibers to the brain and spinal cord. In your case, there was a minute probabilty of transmission if the dog had been infected with Rabies.

As to transmission from human to human, it's very rare, and occurs through biting also, kissing, or transplant surgery.

In Canada, a country where vaccination of animals and humans are routinely and strictly practised, I doubt your friend's dog was infected, since it had been vaccinated. The most common reservoirs of Rabies in North America are Skunks and Bats.

Either way, infected or not, I strongly advise you to visit your doctor as soon as possible and ask for a Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis. It's been 4 days, now 5, since you were supposedly infected; you should take this prophylaxis within 14 days after infection.
In the United States, the treatment consists of a regimen of one dose of immunoglobulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. The vaccinations are relatively painless and are given in one's arm, in contrast to previous treatments which were given through a large needle inserted into the abdomen.
This treatment will protect your from the disease, if you actually had aquired it.

Good Luck

-- Edited by Dr Haisook at 03:40, 2006-06-28

-- Edited by Dr Haisook at 15:36, 2006-06-28