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Rabies assurance needed.
On March 19th, I stayed at a friend’s house in Thane. In the morning, I washed my face, eyes, and mouth with tap water immediately after the water supply started. Ten days later, I learned that monkeys—which were reportedly rabid—had been drinking from the building's water tank. I am concerned about potential rabies exposure since the water may have been contaminated and came into contact with my mucous membranes (eyes and mouth) shortly after the monkeys were present. It's been 43 days since this incident, I am really anxious.
Answers (38)
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Actually it causes very low risk
No need of any further management currently
Just observe whether you are not feeling well as other bacterial diseases have chance
Make sure the water should be clean, chlorinated
Consult nearest health department for further management regarding water sanity
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You are not at risk for rabies from this situation: rabies spreads only through direct contact with an infected animal’s saliva, such as a bite, scratch, or saliva entering a fresh wound or directly into the eyes or mouth, and it does not spread through water because the virus dies quickly outside the body due to dilution, air, and environmental conditions; since you only used tap water that might have been contaminated and had no direct contact with a monkey, this is considered negligible (essentially zero) risk, and even after 43 days there’s no indication of rabies exposure, so rabies vaccination or treatment is not needed for this incident.
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Your risk is essentially negligible 👍
Rabies does not spread through water like this virus doesn’t survive in such conditions.
No need for vaccine or worry. You’re safe 😊
If anxiety is still there, I can explain this clearly book a quick consult 👍
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Very low risk. Rabies does not spread through water like this. It needs direct bite/saliva contact with wound or mucosa from infected animal.
No bite, no scratch → no rabies exposure. After 43 days also no symptoms → safe.
No vaccine needed. Try to relax.
If still worried, you can consult me for reassurance.
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This situation does not pose a risk for rabies transmission.
Rabies spreads only through direct contact with saliva of an infected animal, typically via bites, scratches, or saliva entering fresh wounds or mucous membranes immediately.
In your case:
There was no direct contact with the monkey
The exposure was through tap water from a tank, which is not a viable mode of transmission
The rabies virus is very fragile in the environment and gets inactivated quickly in water and outside the host
Also, it has already been 43 days without any symptoms, which is reassuring.
👉 No anti-rabies vaccination is required for this incident.
👉 No need to worry.
If you develop any unrelated symptoms or anxiety persists, consult a doctor—but from a rabies standpoint, you are safe.
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Medical protocols for Rabies are centered on direct contact (bites, scratches, or direct saliva-to-mucosa contact) with a rabid animal. Indirect exposure through tap water from a shared tank—even if monkeys were present—is clinically considered zero risk. The Rabies virus is highly fragile; it becomes non-infectious almost immediately upon exposure to sunlight, varying temperatures, and the chemical composition of tap water (such as chlorine)."
Next Steps
1.No Vaccination Required: As there was no Category I, II, or III exposure, starting a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) series is medically unnecessary.
2.Tank Hygiene: While Rabies is not a concern, shared water tanks should be professionally cleaned and secured to prevent other waterborne bacterial infections (such as E. coli or Salmonella).
3 Mental Reassurance: Health anxiety can cause physical symptoms that mimic illness. Recognize that your 'anxiety' is a psychological response to a frightening thought, not a viral symptom.
4.Consultation for Peace of Mind: If you find it impossible to stop worrying, a formal clinical consultation is recommended. We can discuss the science of viral transmission in detail to help you gain complete closure
Health Tips
book a consultation if you need further scientific evidence to help resolve this anxiety so you can move forward without fear."
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