Rabies: Fatal, Zoonotic Disease
I. INTRODUCTION
Rabid dogs sometimes appear to be angry or in a rage. Rabies comes from the Latin word rabere. Rabere means to rage or rave. This Latin word rabere may have roots in a Sanskrit word rabhas. Rabhas means to do violence.
The Greeks called rabies lyssa or lytta, which means frenzy or madness. They named human rabies hydrophobia, which means fear of water, a symptom shown by rabies victims.
Rabies is a highly fatal, zoonotic disease that causes severe destruction of the central nervous system of all warm-blooded animals. It has been known since the ancient days of 2300 B.C. This lethal virus still exists in almost all parts of the world.
Once infected, and left untreated, this disease is usually fatal. The rabies virus is …show more content…
concentrated in the saliva, mucous membranes and central nervous tissue of a rabid animal. Only humans, and other mammals, can become infected through a cut or scratch from an animal with rabies, or if the rabies virus comes in contact with the moist tissues of the mouth, nose or eyes.
Wolves, bats, foxes, raccoons, cats and dogs are most common rabid animals. This illness is mostly seen in Southern Europe, Asia and Africa. Places with greatest number of infected animals are: area of Balkans, Iran, Southern Asia and tropical Africa.1
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) play a key role in the transmission of rabies to humans. About 85% to 95% of human rabies cases in China; and 94% to 98%, in India and Pakistan were ascribed to dog bites. In the United Republic of Tanzania, 23,709 humans sustained dog-bite injuries between 1990 and 1996, whereas 42,669 human dog-bite injuries were reported for the year 2000 by Cleaveland and others, suggesting that there was either an increase in the number of cases or the extent of the problem was being underestimated in the reports.
The vast majority (99%) of human deaths arising from rabies occur in the tropical developing world. About 24,000 to 70,000 people are estimated to die of rabies each year in Africa and Asia. Most of the incidences of human rabies occur in rural areas. It has been proposed that this is due to a number of reasons, including low vaccination coverage of dogs as a result of inadequate awareness of the problem, as well as inability to finance the costs of vaccination; poor management of dogs, in particular the free movement of dogs, which increases their risk of contracting rabies from wildlife; and although effective and economical control measures are available, rabies remains a neglected disease in terms of policy formulations throughout most of the developing countries. The lack or low level of political commitment to control rabies is perhaps due to lack of accurate data about rabies to clearly show its impact on public health and socioeconomic affairs.2
II. BODY
How to avoid being bitten by a dog?
How do you avoid getting bit by a dog? Start by never approaching an unfamiliar dog, especially one who 's tied or confined behind a fence or in a car. Don 't pet a dog—even your own—without letting him see and sniff you first.
Never turn your back to a dog and run away. A dog 's natural instinct will be to chase and catch you. Don 't disturb a dog while she 's sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy, or caring for puppies. Be cautious around strange dogs. Always assume that a dog who doesn 't know you may see you as an intruder or a threat.
Before you bring a dog into your household consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn what breeds of dogs are the best fit for your household. Dogs with histories of aggression are not suitable for households with children. Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog. If a child seems frightened by dogs, wait before bringing a dog into your household. Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a household with an infant or toddler.
If you decide to bring a dog into your home never leave infants or young children alone with a dog. Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling). Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling). If you are approached by a dog that may attack you, resist the impulse to scream and run away. Remain motionless, hands at your sides, and avoid eye contact with the dog. Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until he is out of sight. If the dog does attack, "feed" him your jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog. If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around.3 How to Avoid Rabies
Preventing and controlling rabies begins at the community level, where people can take the necessary steps to keep themselves, their family, and their pets free from rabies. Community health officials play an instrumental role in making sure people have the ability to take action and learn just how deadly rabies can be. Vaccinate your pets against rabies! Unvaccinated domestic animals can be infected with rabies through contact with rabid animals and could then transmit rabies to people. Vaccinations must be kept current. The first vaccination a dog or cat receives is good for only a year. The second vaccination is then good for one or three years, depending on which vaccine is administered. Even if you consider your cat, dog, or ferret an indoor pet, wild animals (especially bats) often get indoors, or your pet could get outside when a door is opened. So, it is very important to vaccinate all cats, dogs, and ferrets. In certain situations it is also recommended to vaccinate livestock, particularly if they are valuable or if they are in frequent contact with people (like animals in petting zoos, 4-H animals etc.). Avoid any contact with wild animals. Do not feed or touch wild animals. Do not try to rescue or help injured animals or touch their babies. You are likely to get bitten and could be exposed to rabies. Call Animal Control in your town for help. Do not keep wild animals as pets. There are no injectable vaccines approved for use in wildlife. Therefore, vaccination of individual wild animals is not considered safe or effective. Secure your yard and home. Keep garbage cans covered with tight-fitting lids. Do not leave pet food outdoors. Prevent animals from getting into your home by placing a cap (screened cover) on your chimney, keep garage doors closed, and eliminate places where animals can take up residence. Avoid contact with stray animals.
Strays are more likely to come into contact with wildlife that could be infected with rabies. They may bite or scratch you and may not be vaccinated against rabies. If you are bitten or possibly exposed to rabies; Wash the wound thoroughly with lots of warm water and soap. Seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or local hospital emergency room.4
Symptoms of Rabies in Human
After a symptom-free incubation period that ranges from 10 days to a year or longer (the average is 30 to 50 days), the patient complains of malaise, loss of appetite, fatigue, headache, and fever. Over half of all patients have pain (sometimes itching) or numbness at the site of exposure. They may complain of insomnia or depression. Two to 10 days later, signs of nervous system damage appear, hyperactivity and hypersensitivity, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures, and paralysis. Death may be sudden, due to cardiac or respiratory arrest, or follow a period of coma that can last for months with the aid of life-support measures. Symptoms of Rabies in a …show more content…
Dog
In animals, the course is similar. Symptoms usually develop between 20 and 60 days after exposure. Rabid animals may become aggressive, combative, and highly sensitive to touch and other kinds of stimulation. And they can be vicious. This is the "furious" form of rabies, the kind traditionally associated with mad dogs.
There is also a "dumb" form of the disease in which the animal is lethargic, weak in one or more limbs, and unable to raise its head or make sounds because its throat and neck muscles are paralyzed. In both kinds of animal rabies, death occurs a few days after symptoms appear, usually from respiratory failure.
Cure for Rabies Victims
The advent of scientific medicine makes rabies control possible, not by cure but by prevention.
Unlike other immunizations, the rabies vaccine is administered after exposure to the virus. This unusual technique is successful because the rabies virus takes a comparatively long time to induce disease, a minimum of 10 days, and in rare cases, up to a year.
The length of the incubation period apparently depends on both the location of the wound - the farther from the brain, the longer the incubation - and the dose of virus received.
No matter where the wound, authorities emphasize that the first and most valuable preventive measure is thorough cleaning of the site with soap and water, and immediate medical attention.
If rabies vaccine treatment is called for, it should be started as soon as possible after exposure. Counting the first day of vaccine treatment as day 0, injections are administered on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28.
In addition to vaccine, patients who have not previously been vaccinated for rabies also receive an injection of rabies immune globulin (RIG) on the day they get the first vaccine (day
0).
RIG is prepared from the blood of persons who have been immunized against rabies and contains antibodies to the rabies virus. This "passive" immunity helps protect patients during the period before the rabies vaccine causes their own immune system to counter the virus (active immunity).5
III. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
Rabies remains an important yet neglected disease in Africa and Asia. Disparities in the affordability and accessibility of post-exposure treatment and risks of exposure to rabid dogs result in a skewed distribution of the disease burden across society, with the major impact falling on those living in poor rural communities, in particular adult men and children, due to lack of awareness about proper post-exposure immunization.
The keys to success in the further reduction of rabies in lies in improved coverage with modern rabies vaccines, canine rabies control, and intensifying public education about the disease.
Good veterinary governance is a prerequisite for compliance with international standards, guidelines and recommendations for rabies prevention and control in animals;
In spite of the availability of scientific methods to control rabies in dogs the effective implementation of such rabies control programs and technologies are dependent on political will, community commitment and sufficient financial resources at the global, regional, national and local levels.
IV. REFERENCES
1 Alan C. Jackson and William H. Wunner, Rabies: Second Edition, 2007, Amazon.com, March 2012 < http://www.amazon.com/Rabies-Second-Edition-Scientific-Management/dp/0123693667/ref=dp_ob_title_bk >
2 Humphrey D. Mazigo, Fredros O. Okumu, Eliningaya J. Kweka and Ladslaus L. Mnyone, Retrospective Analysis of Suspected Rabies Cases, 2010, Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, March 2012 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946675/>
3 The Humane Society of the United States, How to Avoid a Dog Bite, 30 Jul. 2010, Humanesociety.org, March 2012 <http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/avoid_dog_bites.html>
4 AVMA Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions, A community approach to dog bite prevention, 14 May 2009, Cdc.gov, March 2012 < http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/biteprevention.html >
5 The HealthScout Network, Rabies, 1 April 2009, Healthscout.com, March 2012 < http://www.healthscout.com/ency/1/738/main.html >
Rabid dogs sometimes appear to be angry or in a rage. Rabies comes from the Latin word rabere. Rabere means to rage or rave. This Latin word rabere may have roots in a Sanskrit word rabhas. Rabhas means to do violence.
The Greeks called rabies lyssa or lytta, which means frenzy or madness. They named human rabies hydrophobia, which means fear of water, a symptom shown by rabies victims.
Rabies is a highly fatal, zoonotic disease that causes severe destruction of the central nervous system of all warm-blooded animals. It has been known since the ancient days of 2300 B.C. This lethal virus still exists in almost all parts of the world.
Once infected, and left untreated, this disease is usually fatal. The rabies virus is …show more content…
concentrated in the saliva, mucous membranes and central nervous tissue of a rabid animal. Only humans, and other mammals, can become infected through a cut or scratch from an animal with rabies, or if the rabies virus comes in contact with the moist tissues of the mouth, nose or eyes.
Wolves, bats, foxes, raccoons, cats and dogs are most common rabid animals. This illness is mostly seen in Southern Europe, Asia and Africa. Places with greatest number of infected animals are: area of Balkans, Iran, Southern Asia and tropical Africa.1
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) play a key role in the transmission of rabies to humans. About 85% to 95% of human rabies cases in China; and 94% to 98%, in India and Pakistan were ascribed to dog bites. In the United Republic of Tanzania, 23,709 humans sustained dog-bite injuries between 1990 and 1996, whereas 42,669 human dog-bite injuries were reported for the year 2000 by Cleaveland and others, suggesting that there was either an increase in the number of cases or the extent of the problem was being underestimated in the reports.
The vast majority (99%) of human deaths arising from rabies occur in the tropical developing world. About 24,000 to 70,000 people are estimated to die of rabies each year in Africa and Asia. Most of the incidences of human rabies occur in rural areas. It has been proposed that this is due to a number of reasons, including low vaccination coverage of dogs as a result of inadequate awareness of the problem, as well as inability to finance the costs of vaccination; poor management of dogs, in particular the free movement of dogs, which increases their risk of contracting rabies from wildlife; and although effective and economical control measures are available, rabies remains a neglected disease in terms of policy formulations throughout most of the developing countries. The lack or low level of political commitment to control rabies is perhaps due to lack of accurate data about rabies to clearly show its impact on public health and socioeconomic affairs.2
II. BODY
How to avoid being bitten by a dog?
How do you avoid getting bit by a dog? Start by never approaching an unfamiliar dog, especially one who 's tied or confined behind a fence or in a car. Don 't pet a dog—even your own—without letting him see and sniff you first.
Never turn your back to a dog and run away. A dog 's natural instinct will be to chase and catch you. Don 't disturb a dog while she 's sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy, or caring for puppies. Be cautious around strange dogs. Always assume that a dog who doesn 't know you may see you as an intruder or a threat.
Before you bring a dog into your household consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn what breeds of dogs are the best fit for your household. Dogs with histories of aggression are not suitable for households with children. Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog. If a child seems frightened by dogs, wait before bringing a dog into your household. Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a household with an infant or toddler.
If you decide to bring a dog into your home never leave infants or young children alone with a dog. Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling). Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling). If you are approached by a dog that may attack you, resist the impulse to scream and run away. Remain motionless, hands at your sides, and avoid eye contact with the dog. Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until he is out of sight. If the dog does attack, "feed" him your jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog. If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around.3 How to Avoid Rabies
Preventing and controlling rabies begins at the community level, where people can take the necessary steps to keep themselves, their family, and their pets free from rabies. Community health officials play an instrumental role in making sure people have the ability to take action and learn just how deadly rabies can be. Vaccinate your pets against rabies! Unvaccinated domestic animals can be infected with rabies through contact with rabid animals and could then transmit rabies to people. Vaccinations must be kept current. The first vaccination a dog or cat receives is good for only a year. The second vaccination is then good for one or three years, depending on which vaccine is administered. Even if you consider your cat, dog, or ferret an indoor pet, wild animals (especially bats) often get indoors, or your pet could get outside when a door is opened. So, it is very important to vaccinate all cats, dogs, and ferrets. In certain situations it is also recommended to vaccinate livestock, particularly if they are valuable or if they are in frequent contact with people (like animals in petting zoos, 4-H animals etc.). Avoid any contact with wild animals. Do not feed or touch wild animals. Do not try to rescue or help injured animals or touch their babies. You are likely to get bitten and could be exposed to rabies. Call Animal Control in your town for help. Do not keep wild animals as pets. There are no injectable vaccines approved for use in wildlife. Therefore, vaccination of individual wild animals is not considered safe or effective. Secure your yard and home. Keep garbage cans covered with tight-fitting lids. Do not leave pet food outdoors. Prevent animals from getting into your home by placing a cap (screened cover) on your chimney, keep garage doors closed, and eliminate places where animals can take up residence. Avoid contact with stray animals.
Strays are more likely to come into contact with wildlife that could be infected with rabies. They may bite or scratch you and may not be vaccinated against rabies. If you are bitten or possibly exposed to rabies; Wash the wound thoroughly with lots of warm water and soap. Seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or local hospital emergency room.4
Symptoms of Rabies in Human
After a symptom-free incubation period that ranges from 10 days to a year or longer (the average is 30 to 50 days), the patient complains of malaise, loss of appetite, fatigue, headache, and fever. Over half of all patients have pain (sometimes itching) or numbness at the site of exposure. They may complain of insomnia or depression. Two to 10 days later, signs of nervous system damage appear, hyperactivity and hypersensitivity, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures, and paralysis. Death may be sudden, due to cardiac or respiratory arrest, or follow a period of coma that can last for months with the aid of life-support measures. Symptoms of Rabies in a …show more content…
Dog
In animals, the course is similar. Symptoms usually develop between 20 and 60 days after exposure. Rabid animals may become aggressive, combative, and highly sensitive to touch and other kinds of stimulation. And they can be vicious. This is the "furious" form of rabies, the kind traditionally associated with mad dogs.
There is also a "dumb" form of the disease in which the animal is lethargic, weak in one or more limbs, and unable to raise its head or make sounds because its throat and neck muscles are paralyzed. In both kinds of animal rabies, death occurs a few days after symptoms appear, usually from respiratory failure.
Cure for Rabies Victims
The advent of scientific medicine makes rabies control possible, not by cure but by prevention.
Unlike other immunizations, the rabies vaccine is administered after exposure to the virus. This unusual technique is successful because the rabies virus takes a comparatively long time to induce disease, a minimum of 10 days, and in rare cases, up to a year.
The length of the incubation period apparently depends on both the location of the wound - the farther from the brain, the longer the incubation - and the dose of virus received.
No matter where the wound, authorities emphasize that the first and most valuable preventive measure is thorough cleaning of the site with soap and water, and immediate medical attention.
If rabies vaccine treatment is called for, it should be started as soon as possible after exposure. Counting the first day of vaccine treatment as day 0, injections are administered on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28.
In addition to vaccine, patients who have not previously been vaccinated for rabies also receive an injection of rabies immune globulin (RIG) on the day they get the first vaccine (day
0).
RIG is prepared from the blood of persons who have been immunized against rabies and contains antibodies to the rabies virus. This "passive" immunity helps protect patients during the period before the rabies vaccine causes their own immune system to counter the virus (active immunity).5
III. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
Rabies remains an important yet neglected disease in Africa and Asia. Disparities in the affordability and accessibility of post-exposure treatment and risks of exposure to rabid dogs result in a skewed distribution of the disease burden across society, with the major impact falling on those living in poor rural communities, in particular adult men and children, due to lack of awareness about proper post-exposure immunization.
The keys to success in the further reduction of rabies in lies in improved coverage with modern rabies vaccines, canine rabies control, and intensifying public education about the disease.
Good veterinary governance is a prerequisite for compliance with international standards, guidelines and recommendations for rabies prevention and control in animals;
In spite of the availability of scientific methods to control rabies in dogs the effective implementation of such rabies control programs and technologies are dependent on political will, community commitment and sufficient financial resources at the global, regional, national and local levels.
IV. REFERENCES
1 Alan C. Jackson and William H. Wunner, Rabies: Second Edition, 2007, Amazon.com, March 2012 < http://www.amazon.com/Rabies-Second-Edition-Scientific-Management/dp/0123693667/ref=dp_ob_title_bk >
2 Humphrey D. Mazigo, Fredros O. Okumu, Eliningaya J. Kweka and Ladslaus L. Mnyone, Retrospective Analysis of Suspected Rabies Cases, 2010, Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, March 2012 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946675/>
3 The Humane Society of the United States, How to Avoid a Dog Bite, 30 Jul. 2010, Humanesociety.org, March 2012 <http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/avoid_dog_bites.html>
4 AVMA Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions, A community approach to dog bite prevention, 14 May 2009, Cdc.gov, March 2012 < http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/biteprevention.html >
5 The HealthScout Network, Rabies, 1 April 2009, Healthscout.com, March 2012 < http://www.healthscout.com/ency/1/738/main.html >