The Rabies Virus: Things You Need To Know

Rabies is a virus-caused illness of the brain and nervous system. It is spread through the bite of a rabid animal. The virus’s incubation period, or the period between infection and the onset of symptoms, is fairly lengthy: on average, nearly two months. Due to the virus’s extended incubation time, the rabies vaccination is effective even when given after infection. However, once symptoms appear, the disease progresses relentlessly and unabatedly.

What are the symptoms of rabies?

Rabies begins with weariness, sore throat, chills, vomiting, and headache. After a week, these symptoms worsen, including disorientation, hallucinations, odd behavior, hyperactivity, and difficulties swallowing. Rabies’ terminal stage includes paralysis, coma, and, eventually, death. That is why it is important to regularly take your pet to a suwanee vet.

How is rabies transmitted?

Rabies is spread through contact with an infected animal’s saliva. While any mammal can contract rabies, raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes are the most often infected in the United States. Rabies is spread via an infected animal’s bite. Rabies can also be transferred through licking an open wound, cut, or scratch or through licking the mouth, eyes, or nose of an infected animal. Petting a rabid animal will not result in the transmission of rabies.

If you or a family member gets bitten by a rabid animal, immediately clean the wound properly and contact the local health authority or an infectious disease expert (at a hospital) to get more information on which animals in the area are likely to spread rabies. 

How should someone who has been bitten by a potentially rabid animal be treated?

The following should be included in the treatment of those bitten by a potentially rabid animal:

• Carefully clean the wound with soap and water.
• Administer rabies immune globulin (RIG),* a serum preparation derived from individuals with elevated levels of anti-rabies antibodies in their blood. To prevent the rabies virus from attaching to the nervous system, RIG should be injected into and around the incision.
• Begin the rabies vaccination sequence immediately.*
• Contact animal control.

When is rabies vaccination not necessary?

If the animal (for example, a dog or cat) resides in or has been observed in the area for ten days, it can be observed to determine if it behaves properly.

• If the animal does not exhibit any signs of rabies after ten days, no treatment is required.

• Additionally, animals immunized against rabies are unlikely to transmit the disease – all the more reason to ensure that your animals are rabies-vaccinated.

Mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, birds, and chipmunks are not rabies carriers. There is no evidence that reptiles, amphibians, or fish have contracted or transmitted rabies.

When is rabies vaccination necessary? 

• If no one knows the animal and it cannot be observed, or if the animal is found in a country with a high prevalence of rabid animals, treatment should begin promptly.

• If the animal exhibits any signs of rabies within ten days of observation (such as odd or unusual behavior), treatment should begin immediately.

Raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats are all possible carriers of rabies. Companion animals that have not been vaccinated, such as cats and dogs, may spread rabies. Visit HeartOfSuwaneeAnimalHosp.com to learn more. 

Conclusion

While human immunization can avoid deaths, it will never be sufficient to eradicate the illness, and costs will continue to rise over time. The most cost-effective strategy is to invest in removing the risk of rabies at its source. Vaccinating at least 70% of dogs in high-risk locations is now widely recognized as the most efficient prevention of human rabies mortality.