Possible risk of rabies from dead animal?

[ArielWynn]

Hello, I have a question about risk of rabies from a dead animal. About 12 days ago I had to bury a dead raccoon I found on my property. I believe it had been dead perhaps 3 or 4 days and I don't know what it died of and presumed it was too far gone to be checked for rabies. I was very careful not to touch it or anything around it, and had my face (nose and mouth) covered with a cloth. After this I read that even though the virus itself does not survive long after its host has died, there is a very very slight chance of catching rabies from the virus being in the air from the gasses of a decomposing animal - does this mean there is a risk of catching it if the raccoon had it? I could smell the corpse smell even through the cloth. Does this mean I should be considering rabies treatment, or is that far fetched? Thank you

[ArielWynn]

Ok, I've more or less thought the same thing, but it's good to get a reasonable opinion from someone! Thanks again for your time.
ArielWynn

[ArielWynn]

Thank you for your reply. I had never heard of catching the virus in the way I asked about before I read this
http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_multi_rabies#
I don't usually worry much, but that preyed on my mind a bit, so thanks again for your answer.
ArielWynn

[mkh9]

I meant open Wound. Like a bite from the animal or a wound that you had that was open to the air where it had blood exposed where the saliva could hit or mix with the blood of the wound. Sorry for the typo.
mkh9

[mkh9]

According to the CDC, you can only get rabies through saliva from the animal alive or dead if the saliva gets into an open would, or eyes nose or mouth and organ transplant. Not from breathing in the smell of the dead animal. You are fine.
mkh9