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Why is immunization after being bitten by a rabid animal so effective and why aren’t people vaccinated for rabies like dogs and cats are?

User Lisa Li
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Final answer:

Immunization after being bitten by a rabid animal is effective because it provides the body with antibodies that can fight against the rabies virus. People aren't routinely vaccinated for rabies like dogs and cats because the incidence of rabies in humans is much lower compared to animals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Immunization after being bitten by a rabid animal is effective because it provides the body with antibodies that can fight against the rabies virus. When a person is bitten by a rabid animal, the virus takes time to travel from the bite site to the central nervous system. This window of time allows for vaccination to be administered, which boosts the immune response and prevents the virus from entering nervous tissue.

The reason people aren't routinely vaccinated for rabies like dogs and cats is because the incidence of rabies in humans is much lower compared to animals. Routine vaccination of domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, makes it unlikely that humans will contract rabies from an animal bite. Additionally, in some countries, quarantine or proof of rabies vaccination is required for domestic pets being brought into the country, further reducing the risk of human exposure to rabies.

User Dmitrij Holkin
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