Rabies Virus

In News 

• A proper study has been sought into the recent deaths due to rabies among people who are vaccinated against the infection.

About Rabies

• It is a zoonotic viral disease.
• It is caused by the Rabies virus, of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family Rhabdoviridae.
  • It is a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus that is present in the saliva of a rabid animal (dog, cat, monkey, etc).
• Rabies is 100% fatal but 100% vaccine-preventable. 
• 33% of global rabies deaths are recorded in India.
• Common Vectors/ Reservoirs of Virus
  • The most common reservoir of the virus is the domestic/street dog especially in South Asia and Africa.
  • More than 99% of human deaths due to rabies are caused by dog-mediated rabies.
  • In developed nations like the USA, animals that transmit rabies are bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks.
  • Most mammals can carry the virus and hence can cause the disease.
• It spreads by the bite of a rabid animal that leads to the deposition of the saliva and the virus in the wound.
  • The incubation period varies from 4 days to 2 years or sometimes even more.
  • The incubation period means the time interval between the bite and the occurrence of symptoms/signs of the disease.
• Symptoms
  • Fever, Headache, Nausea, Vomiting
  • Anxiety, Confusion, Hyperactivity, Hallucinations, Insomnia
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Excessive salivation
  • Partial paralysis
  • Fear brought on by attempts to drink fluids because of difficulty swallowing water, etc.
• The death invariably occurs in 4 days to 2 weeks due to cardio-respiratory failure.

Control and Prevention of Rabies

• Get rabies vaccination to prevent the infection.
• Vaccinating your pet against the disease.
• Maintain distance from the wild animals.
• Wash wounds with soap and water and maintain good hygiene.
• Keep your pets away from the other stray dogs.
• Prevent bats from wandering around your campuses and living places.

Source: TH