Rabies is a deadly viral infection affecting the brain and central nervous system of humans and mammals. The virus spreads through the saliva of infected animals, primarily via bites, scratches, or contact with broken skin, eyes, nose, or mouth. Stray dogs account for 99 percent of all rabies transmissions, though bats, foxes, and raccoons can also spread the disease. The incubation period varies from a few days to over a year, depending on how close the wound is to the brain.
Incidence tends to rise during female dog breeding seasons, which occur twice yearly in February to March and September to October. Stray animals facing hunger, thirst, physical weakness, mistreatment, or injuries are far more vulnerable to contracting and spreading infection.
Main Symptoms in dogs:
Main symptoms include mild fever, licking at the bite or scratch site, abnormal behavior, hyperreactivity to sound and light, sudden biting, eating stones, dirt or trash ,depressed or weak behavior, muscle tremors, staggering or inability to walk, paralysis, excessive foaming at the mouth, abnormal vocalization, lower jaw dropping, inability to swallow food or water, as though an object is stuck in the throat, coma, and respiratory failure.
It is not advisable to touch or handle a suspected rabid dog with bare hands.
Main symptoms in human beings:
Main symptoms include flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, vomiting, hydrophobia, fear of air, light, and sound, and severe neurological damage. The disease is always fatal once clinical symptoms appear.
Treatment in human beings:
There is no effective treatment for rabies once symptoms appear. The disease is nearly 100% fatal. However, rabies is possibly preventable if an exposed person receives immediate medical intervention before symptoms start.
Immediate wound management:
Wound managementis the first step to physically remove and neutralize the virus. Flush and wash the wound or scratch immediately with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. The lipid-disrupting property of soap helps inactivate the virus. Then apply a virucidal antiseptic. The wound should not be sutured or tightly bandaged. It is better that treatment be carried out by a trained medical officer on priority. For treatment of human beings, rabies immune globulin (HRIG), vaccine, virucidal antiseptic drugs, and other required drugs should be provided in all civil hospitals and rural health centers for immediate treatment.
Disease control of rabies in dogs:
- Disease control includes mass vaccination of pets and stray dogs, and neutering of both male and female dogs to control further breeding.
- Residentsof the area should provide food and water in parks and along roadsides so that stray dogs are not thirsty and hungry.
- Mass scale public awareness through electronic and print media should cover rabies, breeding seasons, symptoms, prevention, friendly behavior, and treatment.
- Rabies vaccine, other equipment and drugs, and trained veterinary personnel should be provided at union council level to catch dogs and perform surgical procedures such as spaying and castration.
- Stray dogs showing rabies like symptoms may beculled immediately so that they are not mixed with other stray dogs. Lectures regarding rabies should be provided to primary and high-school students. If possible, a lesson regarding rabies symptoms, control, and treatment should be included in Class 6 Sindhi and Urdu subjects.
Advice for pet owners:
Pet owners are advised not to send their dogs outside their houses and not allow stray dogs to enter their houses or come near their pets, especially during the breeding season. Preventive vaccination against rabies may be carried out yearly to protect pets from rabies.Provide proper hygiene and trimming of nails.