Rabies non-bite exposure

[jackmickelsen]

I have a question about rabies. A monkey threw a piece of mango from a tree on the side of my head (partly on my cheek) one week ago. It has probably been eaten by that monkey. The skin on my cheek was intact and the "wetness" from the mango (and partly from the saliva of the monkey) on my cheek was also very few. I directly cleaned my cheek with a wet towel (no soap, but the "wetness" from the piece of mango was gone) and a few minutes later my cheek was dry, so the virus was death I guess. But can't the virus have been sneaked into my mouth? And how long can the rabies virus survive on the human skin with high temperatures (around 30 degrees celsius), dry saliva and when exposed to sunlight? And how big is the chance that the monkey was infected with rabies (he acted normal and was just eating a mango in a tree)? Do I have to worry about rabies? I am really worried, because rabies in a 100% fatal disease..
I don't have any symptoms yet.
Thank you

[mkh9]

Yes I think you are okay. It is scary. But it sounds like you did all the right things. You didn't have any open sores or cuts and it doesn't sound like you got anything in your mouth. Also, there is no sign that the monkey had rabies.So, you should be okay. If you are still scared get another opinion from a doctor or public health.
mkh9

[jackmickelsen]

I had no open wounds on that skin, maybe an un-squeezed pimple, but no contact with blood or nerves was possible on that skin I think. And the saliva mixed with mango juice dried up very quickly because it was hot and the sun was shining (Malaysia). I cleaned my cheek with a wet towel, so I think I already swept almost everything of it away. The not swept wetness dried within a few minutes and had been exposed to sunlight. The wet area was not near my mouth but more nearby my ear. But do I need to worry you think, or am I just an bit paranoid? I am 99 procent sure that it didn't come into my mouth or my eyes, because I simply did not feel anything wet going into my mouth or eyes. But you never know it for sure... But I think that's just me being paranoia. I also fully swept my cheek 10 minutes later with a DRY towel, so I guess it all has to be all right and I don't need to seek any rabies vaccines. Do you agree?

[mkh9]

Rabies can't survive if it gets dried out and in the sun. So once it was dry it dies. Also, if you didn't get it in your mouth when the mango hit you and it was wet then you are clear. There is no way to know if the monkey had rabies. Usually they act strange but there is a period when you don't have symptoms and can still infect someone. But it is all about whether or not you had any cuts on the skin and whether it got in your mouth. If not then you are fine.
mkh9