One of the most well-known diseases in wild and domestic animals is rabies, a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals and humans.

Stronger Together

Every year, on September 28, it is World Rabies Day, and this year’s theme is “Stronger Together.” According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the theme highlights the fact that eliminating rabies is only possible when we work together.

September 28 is the anniversary of the death of French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who, together with his colleagues, developed the first effective rabies vaccine in 1885. This was to save a boy, Joseph Meister, from the disease.

What is rabies?

The rabies virus is particularly present in the saliva and brain of infected animals, most commonly dogs, and is transmitted by a bite. It can be passed between an animal and a human, making it a zoonotic, tropical disease.

According to WHO, rabies has a fatality rate of nearly 100% once the symptoms appear. Therefore, it remains one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases, killing around 59 000 people annually.

Prevention:

The best way to prevent this disease is to get your pets vaccinated annually. It is also advisable that you stay away from wild animals that look like they are tame. Animals that are usually active at night but are suddenly out and about in the day, like bats, should be avoided.

Incubation:

The incubation period can last for weeks to months, depending on:

• The age of the patient, as younger children have shorter periods.
• The area of the bite and how close it is to the brain.
• The rabies vaccination status.
• Severity of the exposure.

The virus has to travel to the brain before symptoms can be seen.

Signs:

According to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the first symptoms of rabies in a human may last for several days. A severe case of rabies can cause the brain to malfunction within two weeks after the first symptoms:

• Weakness.
• Fever.
• Headaches.
• Discomfort.
• Itching sensation.
• Prickling.

Symptoms:

According to the WHO, there are two forms of rabies.

Furious Rabies. Due to cardio-respiratory arrest, death can occur after a few days:

• Hallucinations.
• Confusion and lack of coordination.
• A fear of water known as hydrophobia.
• A fear of drafts or fresh air known as aerophobia.

Paralytic Rabies:

• Paralytic rabies takes longer and is less dramatic. The victim’s muscles become paralysed gradually.
• The patient will be comatose and eventually die.

Symptoms of rabies may include:

• Insomnia.
• Seizures.
• Anxiety.
• Agitation.
• Delirium.
• Hypersalivation.

Treatment:

If you suspect a patient might have rabies, go to the doctor immediately. If you have been bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal, wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and seek medical help.

Interesting facts:

• 99% of human rabies cases are caused by dog bites and scratches.
• Rabies deaths are preventable with treatment such as cleaning the wound and getting a course of human rabies vaccine to stop the virus from reaching the central nervous system.
• Children between five and 14 years are frequent victims of rabies.