 
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, and costs $8.6 billion.
Once symptoms appear, rabies is 100% fatal. Domestic dogs are mostly responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans, although the disease is harboured in many other animal species, and may be passed to humans from any of them. Rabies affects both domestic and wild animals. It spreads via saliva, or through bites, scratches, or direct contact with eyes, mouths, or open wounds. Children between the age of 5 and 14 years old are frequent victims. Since dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths in most places in the world, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans, the disease can be largely prevented by the vaccination of dogs in the community. In North America, where vaccination of pets for rabies is usually required by law, this has largely taken place, so that the main source of infection in humans is now rabid bats.  Animals that can transmit the rabies virus Any mammal can spread the rabies virus. The animals most likely to spread the rabies virus to people include: In North America, populations of bats and foxes seem to be the most prone to rabies. However, human deaths following exposure to rabies-carrying foxes, raccoons, skunks, jackals, mongooses and other wild carnivore hosts are very rare. Bites from rodents are not known to transmit rabies. Human-to-human transmission through bites or saliva is theoretically possible but has never been confirmed. The same applies to the transmission to humans via consumption of raw meat or milk of infected animals.  If you are bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal, do an immediate, thorough wound washing with soap for at least 15 minutes, and treat the wound as soon as possible. Seek medical attention immediately; this will involve a course of potent rabies vaccine, and the administration of rabies immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies into the wound, if indicated. Although effective human vaccines and immunoglobulins exist for rabies, these are often not easily available or accessible to those in need, in some countries. Managing a rabies exposure, moreover, can cost hundreds of dollars, along with travel costs and loss of income. Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccinating dogs, including puppies, is the most effective strategy for preventing rabies in people, because it stops the transmission at its source. Education on dog behaviour and bite prevention for both children and adults is also essential. Symptoms Very effective vaccines are available to immunize people both before exposure, and after an exposure if it is caught soon enough. The incubation period for rabies is usually 2–3 months, but may vary greatly. Initial symptoms include fever, pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, prickling, or burning at the wound site. After several weeks, once the virus has moved to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops. Rabies in people at this stage can be managed but very rarely cured, and not without severe neurological effects. There are two types of rabies: Furious rabies results in hyperactivity, excitable behaviour, hallucinations, lack of coordination, hydrophobia (fear of water) and aerophobia (fear of drafts or of fresh air). Death occurs after a few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest. Paralytic rabies accounts for about 20% of the total number of human cases. This form of rabies is less dramatic but usually lasts longer . Muscles gradually become paralysed, starting from the wound site. A coma slowly develops and eventually death occurs. The paralytic form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, contributing to the under-reporting of the disease. Watch a video of a man with rabies that turned out to be fatal. [Viewer discretion advised] Diagnosis Currently, rabies is difficult or impossible to detect before the onset of disease symptoms such as signs of hydrophobia ... at which point it is usually to late for a cure. This makes it very important to have the animal responsible for the bite tested, if it wasn't showing obvious symptoms, which may mean having it put down so that the brain can be examined. The signs of rabies in pets: If your pet gets infected with the rabies virus, it can transmit rabies to other pets and humans as soon as the virus gets into your pets’ saliva. This can happen up to 10 days before your pet starts to show signs of rabies. Once a pet shows signs of rabies, it will usually die within 7 to 10 days. If your pet may have been exposed to rabies, it needs to be confined. Contact your veterinarian immediately. You can only test for rabies after the potentially infected animal dies or is euthanized. 
If your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date before it was exposed, and it is revaccinated within 7 days of exposure, it needs to be isolated and observed for 45 days. (This varies with locale).If your pet's rabies vaccinations were not up to date before it was exposed, it needs to be revaccinated as soon as possible and then confined for 3 to 6 months. Talk to your veterinarian about the rules for observation or confinement of your pet, where you live. HTML, graphics & design by Bill Willis 2023 |