Are rats major carriers of rabies?

Rats are not considered major carriers of rabies. The primary carriers of the disease tend to be specific species of mammals, such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. While any mammal theoretically can carry rabies, the likelihood of rats being carriers is extremely low. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies report that there have been very few documented cases of rabies transmission from rats to humans.

Rats have a different behavior and ecological niche that does not typically involve the same level of exposure or interaction with rabies virus compared to those other animals that are more frequently associated with transmission. This understanding helps clarify why the view of rats as major rabies carriers is inaccurate.