Rabies: A deadly disease that can be prevented

Story by: Regina Bless

Rabies is a serious viral disease that affects the brain and nervous system. It is mainly spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite or scratch. Dogs are responsible for up to 99% of human rabies cases, making dog vaccination and responsible pet ownership important parts of prevention.

The disease remains a major public health concern, particularly in Africa and Asia. Children are among those most affected. The most worrying fact about rabies is that once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. However, deaths can be prevented if a person receives appropriate treatment promptly after exposure.

How is rabies transmitted?

Rabies can spread when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through a bite, scratch, open wound or mucous membranes such as the eyes or mouth. Dogs are the most common source, but other mammals, including cats, bats and some wild animals, can also transmit the virus.

Symptoms of rabies

Early symptoms may include fever, pain and unusual tingling, burning or prickling around the site of the bite. As the infection reaches the brain and spinal cord, a person may develop confusion, agitation, hallucinations, difficulty swallowing, fear of water, paralysis and eventually coma.

What should you do after an animal bite?

A suspected rabies exposure should be treated as an emergency. The wound should immediately be washed thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. The person should then seek medical attention as soon as possible for a professional assessment and, when necessary, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which includes rabies vaccination and, for certain severe exposures, rabies immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies.

People should not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking treatment. Once clinical rabies develops, there is no reliably effective treatment.

Prevention is possible

Rabies can be prevented through regular vaccination of dogs and other pets, avoiding contact with unfamiliar or stray animals, teaching children how to behave safely around animals, and seeking immediate medical care after a bite or scratch. Vaccinating dogs is considered one of the most effective ways to prevent human rabies.

Rabies is deadly, but it is preventable. A bite should never be ignored. Wash the wound immediately and seek medical care without delay.