Rabies

Rabies Latest News

According to a paper published in One Health, of the 59,000 rabies-mediated human deaths in the world every year, India represents a third, around 20,000, and more than any other country.

About Rabies

• Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease.
• It is caused by the Rabies virus (RABV) which affects the central nervous system.
• Rabies infects mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife.
• It is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects already marginalized, poor, and vulnerable populations.
• Transmission: Rabies spreads to people and animals via saliva, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (e.g. eyes, mouth, or open wounds).
• Clinically, it has two forms: 
  • Furious rabies: It is characterized by hyperactivity and hallucinations.
  • Paralytic rabies: It is characterized by paralysis and coma.

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Symptoms of Rabies

• The incubation period for rabies is typically 2–3 months but may vary from one week to one year.
• Initial symptoms include generic signs like fever, pain, and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensations at the wound site. 
• As the virus moves to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops. 
• Once the virus infects the central nervous system and clinical symptoms appear, rabies is fatal in 100% of cases.
• Prevention: Vaccinating dogs, including puppies, is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people because it stops the transmission at its source.

Source: TH