I had a dog bite me in 2001/2002, but I didn't take the rabies vaccine at that time. After about 5-6 years, I got worried and took 3 doses of the vaccine in 2008. Over the next few years, I took a total of 12 rabies vaccines as post-exposure treatment (3 in 2008, 3 in 2010, 4 in 2011, and 2 in 2012).My question is, with all these vaccines, is there still a risk of getting rabies in the future, especially since I got the vaccines much later after the bite?Also, last November, I had dinner at a mela where the food was placed on the floor, and I got worried that a dog might have eaten it. Some doctors told me that the rabies incubation period is 1-3 months, but its been 6-7 months now. Should I still be concerned about rabies, and should I get tests like the Nuchal Biopsy or Rabies Antibody test? Im really confused and anxious about this situation.

Given your concerns, I'll provide a detailed response to help alleviate your worries.(i) Dog bite in 2001/2002 and subsequent vaccinationsYou received a dog bite in 2001/2002 but didn't receive immediate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Later, between 2008-2012, you received a total of 12 rabies vaccinations.The risk of developing rabies in this scenario is extremely low.Multiple factors contribute to this assessment:1. Time elapsed: The dog bite occurred over 20 years ago, and you've received multiple vaccinations since then.2. Vaccination regimen: You've completed a series of vaccinations, which provides robust immunity against rabies.3. Immune system response: Your immune system has likely developed a strong response to the vaccinations, further reducing the risk of developing rabies.(ii) Concerns about food exposure at a hotelYou're worried that a dog might have contaminated the food you ate at a hotel. Even if a dog had come into contact with the food, the risk of transmitting rabies through contaminated food is extremely low.Key points to consider:1. Rabies transmission: Rabies is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite. Indirect transmission through contaminated food or surfaces is highly unlikely.2. Incubation period: The incubation period for rabies is typically between 2-10 weeks, with most cases occurring within 2-3 months. Since you've already passed the 6-7 month mark, the risk of developing rabies from this incident is negligible.3. Testing and diagnosis: Nuchal biopsy and rabies antibody tests are typically used to diagnose rabies in symptomatic individuals. Given your asymptomatic status and the low risk of exposure, these tests are unlikely to provide any valuable information.