CONTRIBUTOR(S): Vetstream Ltd, Julien Bazelle,
Rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a very serious disease, killing more than 55,000 people around the world each year. There are few reported cases of recovery from confirmed infection. Every year, more than 15 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination. If you plan to take your pet abroad then they will need protection against this deadly disease.
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What is rabies?
Rabies is an invariably fatal viral infection. The virus is passed from animal to animal via the saliva. There are no documented cases of disease being passed from one human to another. Rabies is a serious problem in most countries of the world with the exception of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Isles, Scandinavia (excluding Denmark), Iceland, the West Indies and Atlantic Islands.
In Europe and the United States, infection persists mainly in wild animals, for example foxes, bats, racoons and wolves, and humans are infected from contact with such animals. In contrast, in India and other Asian/African countries infection commonly occurs in dogs and cats associated with humans.
What are the signs of rabies?
After an animal has been infected with the virus the signs of rabies usually develop within 2 to 8 weeks. Occasionally the development of signs may be delayed for months or years. The interval between infection and development of signs depends to some extent on the site of the bite. Signs tend to develop more rapidly following bites around the face.
The illness starts gradually with fever, headache and numbness around the wound. As the virus spreads along the nerves to involve the brain, personality changes (eg fearfulness, aggressive behavior) may develop. Two broad types of rabies are described: ‘furious’ rabies where there is extreme agitation and ‘dumb’ rabies where the individual is quiet, withdrawn and eventually unrousable. Subsequently the illness progresses to increased drooling, difficulty swallowing, spasms, weakness and paralysis.
When will my pet be at risk?
If you plan to take your pet abroad then you should discuss the risks with your veterinarian and find out if additional vaccinations are required. It can take many months to complete appropriate documentation so make sure you plan well in advance.
How can I protect myself and my pet?
There are few reports of anyone surviving rabies and animals suspected of having rabies are usually euthanized. For this reason prevention of infection is essential. Vaccination is normally highly effective against rabies, however it may not completely eliminate the risk of contracting rabies in certain circumstances.
If you are traveling abroad with your pet to a country with high prevalence of rabies then vaccination is required. A single vaccination is given and then your pet must have a blood test to confirm that they are protected.
If you are traveling abroad you should also consider your own health. If you are bitten by an animal abroad always seek local medical advice. Vaccination is an important means of prevention both before possible exposure and after exposure. Post-bite vaccination is the only recognized treatment to prevent the development of the clinical signs and death following infection with the rabies virus and the vaccine should be injected as soon as possible following the bite.
Observe wild animals from a distance and report any wild animal that is acting strangely. Avoid leaving rubbish or pet food outside in countries where rabies is frequently seen in wild animals.
In countries where rabies occurs any domestic animal that has bitten a person is detained and observed for at least 10 days. If the animal has rabies it is likely to show signs within 4 to 7 days. Care should be taken to avoid contact with secretions (saliva, urine) of infected, or potentially infected, individuals.