Rabies: information you need to know

RabiesInformation you need to know Marit Merkus Founder & President Canine Life Support 1

The word ‘rabies’ Rabies is derrived from the Latin word rabere, which means to rage or rave. This Latin word in turn might find its roots in the Sanskrit word rabhas: to do violence. The Greeks referred to rabies as lyssa or lytta which means frenzy or madness. They called human rabies hydrophobia: fear of water, which is one of the symptoms shown by human victims. 2

Rabies history Rabies may be one of the oldest infectious diseases known to man. It has been known since as early as 2000 BC. es – rib irus . sc v in is de a on d le g pa s s an eop on S ie rt us as ois he am ly , b ta of n g ns 0 p t ta ra s on da do r p in s r d s e ar id fo ow 3 t g d do , I gs s w a eu or ca C b rd te ba ce do o v t ec a an ra wo of de illin or ar gs an of sh ali as ies g t r ts s n va k Fr r ke h s P in n or bie m a n io ain in y, ep r s B o n h n te in ug is rab ssl e tes te es p Ro om ati nt rit i i h u n Ki th y rit i re ra e fr L e s n ve a es a d d ks ug t Z o Lo o rt es bod w rab s ne Th va he m tB ol erm bi eric te an a is thr t h n a ra or s re sla nt is rc be op ti s. st itu ni li t te re w G of Am ep dog tb ss ie sed m ea Ro vel an bie fir cr ca sa rit n G d bi in r sc as e s e o w i e is ou a ch re r. D de cen r ra t as 001-100 ADTh em t s Ra es c s u s M an p h D irs bie lla g t ie io m nc es fo f a irs ab er er re or vi1930 BC r F R S G F flu 500 BC 1026 1750 1804 1271 1703 1763 1881 1959 1198 1835 1885 801-900 AD 800-700 BC 1700 1776-1778 400 BC 1734 1759-1762 Mo e b Pa th se ite st cci Ar Ra s Ra eu ne va Ca Ma m ist bi bi r a fo Ra ni es ot es Se im ad t hy Ho Rh oph s of ne dm r t le bi sp on d he rio ap dr m az ob es wr th ra in he re 18 id og ir A us er pe es ia pt ist fir ap bi ite e m ad th es s” ar , a a om lik ou es er st pe s s lis in tid s en in tb ki s th adn th cen ap Pe ar Ch ts th tim s re lli at ro tu ym s rs fur in pe ile He The va s t s e ak ng nd ug ry in ia “d s. ar ra . .M rio re ct s n hi ote h th og n s bi es in dog or Ilia ph er d ma us ati Eu e an e in s es th hu Lo s s Fr ys es ns to d su ro y “r st, En en nd ici cr pe pe em Po ffe a gl ch an ibe on “ra op an rf in ed iso .r le W ro d id s r gi ies ns th es ew en ab ng m di e e. tI ag an tif ie ar do nd ies s ai d d g” ns fo ies r t 3

Louis Pasteur (1822 - 1895) was a Frenchchemist and microbiologist.In 1880 he started his work on rabies and in1885 administered the vaccine for the firsttime on a human.In 1886 he concluded: "Rabies prophylaxisafter a bite is justified. There is cause tocreate a rabies vaccine establishment". Heimmediately launched an international fund.4

Did you know?In the 1957 Walt Disney film ‘Old Yeller’the dog suffers from rabies.They suspect one of the cows to be rabidand when they burn its body aftershooting the cow, a rabid wolf attacksKatie and Lisbeth and Yeller is bitten.Yeller eventually develops rabies andTravis is forced to shoot him.5

What is rabies? Rabies is a viral infection attacking the central nervous system. Rabies causes inflammation of the brain. This causes pressure on various areas of the brain, resulting in diverse symptoms. It is usually spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. The saliva of an infected animal contains high concentrations of the virus.6

Who’s at risk?All mammals can get rabies but only a fewspecies are important as reservoirs for thedisease.Rabies is a zoonotic disease. This means thatit can be transmitted from animals to humans.Rabies is present in more than 150 countriesand territories. Worldwide, every year morethan 55.000 people die of rabies.40% of human deaths are children under theage of 15. Dogs are the source of 99% ofhuman rabies deaths.7

InfectionThe rabies virus first connects to thereceptors on the muscle cells of the bitewound before it binds itself to thenervous tissue.The time of infection to the time ofsymptoms can vary with the number ofbites, the amount of transmitted virus,age and health of the victim and theproximity to the central nervoussystem.This means it can take anywhere from afew days to even a few years beforesymptoms show but on average it takesbetween 30-90 days. 8

SymptomsThe first symptoms can be flu-like, suchas general weakness, fever or headache.These symptoms last a few days.There can be an itchy sensation at thebite wound and within days symptomsturn into anxiety, confusion, agitation. Asthe disease spreads, the person mayexperience delirium, abnormal behavior,hallucinations, and insomnia.Once clinical symptoms of rabies appear,the disease is nearly always fatal, andtreatment is typically supportive.9

The good news Vaccination Education RABIES IS 100% PREVENTABLE! 10

Prevention is the best medicine• Be careful and act responsibly around stray animals• Get your pets vaccinated against rabies• Learn how to recognize an animal with rabies• Know how to avoid dog bites• Learn about dog body language 11

Animal etiquette• Don’t run, scream or throw anything at an animal• Don’t look an animal straight in the eye• Don’t disturb an animal who is sleeping, eating or caring for pups• If an animal is injured, ask a local veterinarian or official for help 12

How to avoid a dogbite When a growling dog approaches you, don’t run away. Instead: • Stand still. • Keep your arms down, hands close to your body. • Look to the ground, avoid direct eye contact with the dog. • If a dog knocks you over, curl up, lie still and protect your face with your hands. 13

If you are bitten• Wash the wound immediately with lots of water and soap• Seek medical attention right away• If you were bitten by a stray dog, report the description of the dog and the location. Explain the situation and mention any abnormalities in the dog’s behavior. 14

Learning resourcesThere are some excellent rabies learning resources available on the internet. To name just a few:Global Alliance for Rabies Control - www.rabiescontrol.netWorld Rabies Day - www.worldrabiesday.orgCenters for Disease Control and Prevention - www.cdc.gov/rabiesRabies: a comprehensive guide - www.rabiesinfection.comSharing is Caring! Share your knowledge and raise awareness! 15

Sources • Rabies free world • Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources • Rabies: a comprehensive guide • Institut Pasteur • Wikipedia • The unity and diversity of life • Jetwing eco holidays publications • Stanford university • Centers for disease control and prevention • World Society for the Protection of Animals • Doggone Safe16

www.caninelifesupport.com 17

http://caninelifesupport1.wordpress.com	1415
http://www.caninelifesupport.nl	353
http://www.pinksneakers.nl	53
http://wp.caninelifesupport.com	11

Rabies: information you need to know

by Canine Life Support on Sep 06, 2011

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

4 Embeds 1,832

Statistics

Rabies: information you need to know — Presentation Transcript