In News
- A proper study has been sought into the recent deaths due to rabies among people who are vaccinated against the infection.
About Rabies
- It is a zoonotic viral disease.
- It is caused by the Rabies virus, of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family Rhabdoviridae.
- It is a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus that is present in the saliva of a rabid animal (dog, cat, monkey, etc).
- Rabies is 100% fatal but 100% vaccine-preventable.
- 33% of global rabies deaths are recorded in India.
- Common Vectors/ Reservoirs of Virus
- The most common reservoir of the virus is the domestic/street dog especially in South Asia and Africa.
- More than 99% of human deaths due to rabies are caused by dog-mediated rabies.
- In developed nations like the USA, animals that transmit rabies are bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks.
- Most mammals can carry the virus and hence can cause the disease.
- It spreads by the bite of a rabid animal that leads to the deposition of the saliva and the virus in the wound.
- The incubation period varies from 4 days to 2 years or sometimes even more.
- The incubation period means the time interval between the bite and the occurrence of symptoms/signs of the disease.
- Symptoms
- Fever, Headache, Nausea, Vomiting
- Anxiety, Confusion, Hyperactivity, Hallucinations, Insomnia
- Difficulty swallowing
- Excessive salivation
- Partial paralysis
- Fear brought on by attempts to drink fluids because of difficulty swallowing water, etc.
- The death invariably occurs in 4 days to 2 weeks due to cardio-respiratory failure.
Control and Prevention of Rabies
- Get rabies vaccination to prevent the infection.
- Vaccinating your pet against the disease.
- Maintain distance from the wild animals.
- Wash wounds with soap and water and maintain good hygiene.
- Keep your pets away from the other stray dogs.
- Prevent bats from wandering around your campuses and living places.
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World Rabies Day
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Source: TH
