HELLO friends and family. Today our topic is very crucial because of its public health importance.
* Do you have a dog or cat?
*Do your neighbours have dogs or cats?
* Are there dogs or cats in your neighborhood?
*Do you go to caves?
If you answer YES to atleast one of the questions above, then this piece is for you to read and share!
If you think HIV is deadly, then try RABIES!
I believe you must have heard the word Rabies and probably be wondering what it is or you've read something about it somewhere. Today we will go deep into all you need to know about rabies and save yourself, family and friends from the mayhem it can cause.
This year alone, I got more than 3 calls from family members who got their loved ones bitten by a Rabied Dog. Two are dead as I write!
The information you are about to be exposed to is something worth sharing with everybody around you... Knowledge is power.
WHAT IS RABIES?
Rabies is a fatal polioencephalitis of warm blooded animals and humans caused by a single stranded RNA virus of the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae and generally transmitted by the bite of an infected mammal.
Transmission:
- Virus in saliva is transmitted via a wound or mucous membranes
- Inhalation of aerosolized virus may occur with exposure to bats.
- Ingestion of infected tissues is also possible as a route of infection but is rare.
- Via organ transplantation (humans).
Virus replicates in local tissues, where it enters neuromuscular junctions and Neurotendinous spindles; virus is vulnerable to immune mediated destruction(e.g vaccine induced) in local tissues but becomes protected once it reaches peripheral nerves or the CNS.
Large amount of virus present in salivary glands, where it is shielded. Salivary virus excretion begins up to 2 weeks before the onset of neurologic signs.
Incubation period: The incubation period varies and depends on innervation at the site of bite, distance of the bite site to the CNS, and virus variant and amount of virus in the exposure; can range from 2 weeks to as long as 6 months or more.
Note: once clinical signs are apparent, death ensues within 10days.
It is expected that when handling animals, you really need be careful not to get yourself in trouble. It is not just enough to love pets, but you have to make sure you are safe while keeping one.
Am I discouraging you from having pets? NO! Pets are very lovely companions but if not vaccinated against RABIES, may get you infected and result in death of both the pet owner and the pet!
Note: Always insist on your VETERINARIAN to check all pets and ensure they are vaccinated against this deadly virus!
The good news is, there are anti rabies vaccines available and vaccine schedules that I will discourse later under PREVENTION! Humans and animals can be vaccinated.
RISK FACTORS
- Contact with wildlife, especially raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and mongoose
- Lack of vaccination(pets and humans) against rabies
- Exposure to aerosols in bat caves
- Modified live virus rabies vaccines used in immunocompromised animals.
These virus gets into humans through the saliva of infected mammals and they begin to show neurologic signs...
There is a myth, that people bitten by dogs should kill and cook the nose of the dog and they will be cured... It's a big lie! The signs may take time to show depending on the closeness or furtherness from an innervation or from the head. The recent case I heard in Ibadan Nigeria, took almost 1 year before neurologic signs set in and the man died horribly, though that could be prevented if he was given post exposure vaccine.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
Disease forms/subtypes
(Report to a veterinarian when you observe one or more of these signs in your pet)
Clinical signs can be variable but predominantly arise from central nervous system(CNS) dysfunction.
*Prodromal form:
-Change in behavior, which may include anxiety, solitude, and apprehension.
-Fever may be present
-Pruritus may be present at the site of exposure.
- Lasts 2-3days.
*Paralytic (dumb) form (majority of canine (dog) cases, minority of feline(cat) cases):
-Lethargy, difficulty swallowing, ptyalism, voice or bark change, dropped jaw, and lower motor neuron paralysis,
-Last 1-7days, from the onset of overt signs to death.
*Furious form (majority of feline cases, minority of canine cases):
-Aggression, biting, altered voice, Paralysis, seizures, and ataxia.
-Hyperesthesia and hyperresponsiveness
-Lasts 2-4days, from onset of overt signs to death.
TREATMENT:
*Invariably fatal; recovery is extraordinarily Rare. There have been seven reports of human survival following confirmed rabies infection to date, and the best outcome appears to be from bat virus transmission.
*Suspects must be confined and quarantined.
*The first reported survival of a human who did not receive rabies pre- or post exposure prophylaxis was recently described, with treatment termed the "Milwaukee Protocol": rifampin, amantadine, and the induction of a ketamine/midazolam coma.
PREVENTION:
*All dogs and cats should be vaccinated for rabies after 12 weeks of age, again at 12 months of age, and then every year of their lives.
*An immediate booster vaccination in immunized dogs and cats exposed to rabies is advised.
* Disinfect contaminated cages, food dishes, and instruments with a diluted solution of 1 part bleach to 32 parts tap water.
*Avoid dog or cat bite
*Wash bite wounds with detergent and water and seek medical checkup ASAP!
Avoid all these by ensuring your pets are vaccinated against rabies.
Final warning: Never play with the saliva of your unvaccinated pet if you have an open wound
Rabies is found worldwide though there are some rabies free regions such as, New Zealand, some Caribbean islands, the British Isles, parts of Scandinavia, Japan, and Hawaii.
FREE VACCINATION AGAINST RABIES FOR YOUR PETS IN ALL GOVERNMENT VETERINARY CLINICS ON THE 28TH SEPTEMBER! BECAUSE ITS WORLD RABIES DAY!
If this was helpful to you, please like, share and drop a comment!
CALL Or WHATSAPP INCASE OF ANY LEADS/or more info
...
07034684532
DR. JOE ADAMS!
