Rabies

Rabies is an acute viral infection that is nearly always fatal caused by neurotropic virus family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus, and is almost always transmitted by an animal bite, scratch or lick on an open wound from an infected animal.

Rabies is found on all continents, except Antarctica. In certain areas of the world, canine rabies remains highly endemic, including (but not limited to) parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The disease is also found in dogs in most of the other countries of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.

Manifestation: The incubation period may vary from a few days to several years, but is typically 1 to 3 months. The disease progresses from initially fever, headache and tiredness to:

Diagnosis and treatment: Virus is demonstrated in saliva, serum, spinal fluid, and skin biopsies of hair follicles at the nape of the neck. There is no treatment for rabies after symptoms of the disease appear. If a person is thought to have been in contact with a rabid animal the wound should be thoroughly washed with soap and water to remove as much of the virus as they can However, two decades ago scientists developed an extremely effective new rabies vaccine regimen that provides immunity to rabies when administered after an exposure. Only 15 % of patients infected will develop rabies. Persons bitten need ‘post-exposure’ treatment, which consists of an injection of rabies immunoglobulin followed by as series of 5 further vaccines. This immunoglobulin is in short supply in much of the developing world but treatment can also be with purified equine rabies immune globulin (ERIG) and has been used effectively in developing countries where human rabies immune globulin (RIG) might not have been available.

Vaccination: rabies vaccine may be recommended for international travellers based on the local incidence of rabies in the country to be visited.

Prevent rabies by:

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