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I was sleeping, and I think I have been bitten by a rat. I woke up because of a sharp pain and saw two small puncture wounds on my finger, that were bleeding a little. The bleeding stopped after a minute or two. At this point I didn't know what bit me, I thought it might have been a spider or a small insect. Then I spotted a rat in my room. I think the rat was what bit me. I got rid of the rat, but I don't know what to do now. What treatment should I receive? Will I get rabies or any other serious health issue? Should I rush to the hospital right now, or is it okay if I wait till the morning?
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Transmission of the rabies virus from rats is quite unlikely. This is because it is not commonly found in rat saliva and so is not transmitted if a rat bites you. But since there was bleeding, I would like to know if you have taken the tetanus vaccine recently. If you are unsure about your last dose, it might be better to get a tetanus shot. Keep the wound area clean. Also do watch out for any infection or pus formation. You might need antibiotics if it becomes infected. Hope this helps.
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