- BASICS This virus has the scientific name Lyssavirus, but is more commonly known as rabies or the rabies virus. Inside, it contains RNA, or ribonucleic acid, and has a viral envelope around itself. Rabies affects areas all across the globe, but seems to have targeted areas such as Africa, Asia, India, and Indonesia. Africa takes a case rate of 20 to 30 per year in humans in the southern area and 600 to 700 per year in animals like dogs, cats, cattle, and the yellow mongoose. Asia, on the other hand, has a much higher rate of 21 000 to 24 000 deaths per year in SEA Region. India takes a rate of 18 000 to 20 000 per year, and Indonesia had about 36 cases in dogs during the first five months of 2014, which makes an estimate of 86 per year. Rabies first originated in Egypt and was discovered during the 16th century by Italian physician Girolamo Francastoro. He was the one who discovered rabies and found it could affect humans as well as common animals like dogs. Below on the left is a cross section of the rabies virus, and on the right a picture of the virus itself.
- DIAGNOSIS The common name of this virus is rabies or rabies virus, and affects areas such as the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord. These body parts are unfortunately affected in both animals and humans.
- SYMPTOMS The earlier and more common signs of rabies range from pain or tingling at the bite area to depression. Some others include a general feeling of illness, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. As the virus escalates, more distinguishable symptoms can develop. This includes anxiety, confusion, excessive amounts of saliva production, hallucinations, high levels of excitement, insomnia, paralysis of lower legs, issues with swallowing due to painful spasms in the voice box or throat, restlessness, and hydrophobia- the fear of water due to the amount of thirst. Most people distinguish rabies from other viruses by the foaming at the mouth that occurs, unlike other diseases occurring in animals and humans. Some other symptoms such as hydrophobia also distinguish rabies; things like fear of water do not occur in many other diseases. However, the large levels of saliva is the most noticeable and aids in distinguishing rabies from other viruses. Below is one example of this symptom in canines.
- TYPE OF TRANSMISSION In the United States, rabies is transmitted through racoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes and many insectivorous bats. The transmission is usually started when infected saliva from a host is passed to an uninfected animal, which usually occurs through a bite from the infected host. There have also been rare occurrences where the virus is transmitted through a contamination of an uninfected animal's mucous membranes- their eyes, nose, or mouth-, aerosol transmission, and both corneal and organ transplants. However, transmission of rabies from human to human is extremely rare. It can occur through organ transplants or a bite as well, but does not occur very often.
Rabies has a variety of incubation periods. depending on the animal type. In humans, the incubation period is 3 to 6 weeks. In dogs, it is 3 to 8 weeks, and in cats, it is only 2 to 6 weeks. However, there have been a few times when an incubation period of 6 months in dogs and 12 months in humans occur.
- TREATMENT Luckily, there are several treatments for rabies. If someone suspects they have rabies, they must seek a doctor's treatment as soon as possible. The most common treatment is known as post exposure prophylaxis. This is a lot easier than it looks, and just reduces the likelihood of the disease escalating by instructing the victim to wash the wound immediately with soap and water. The next step is a dose or doses of immunoglobulin and very strict injections of the rabies vaccine. The immunoglobulin helps to give the victim immediate protection from rabies until the vaccine starts to work.
There are also many ways for someone to prevent rabies altogether. Do not feed any wild animals and keep a safe distance from them when observing. For parents, make sure to supervise your children and teach them not to go up to or touch any strange animals they are unfamiliar with. Stay away from any animals showing rabies symptoms, such as foaming at the mouth. Do not bring home any wild animals, regardless if they show symptoms or not. If you think an animal may have rabies, keep your distance and contact your local authorities. If you have pet(s) or livestock, be sure to get them vaccinated for rabies.
- VACCINES As mentioned before, there is a vaccine for the rabies virus called Imovax. This vaccine is a polio vaccine, which means its made from the killed viruses of the disease. The recommended schedule is a process of 1 to 3 doses, with the first dose as appropriate. The second dose is given 7 days after the first dose. The third is then given 21 to 28 days after the first dose, or 14 to 21 days after the second dose. Booster shots are not required, but given only as needed and are not recommended for travellers. However, this vaccine can and does have some very negative side affects. This includes reactions at the injection site- such as pain, swelling, itching, and redness-, headaches, dizziness, muscle aches and pains, and nausea. There are also many other side affects that are more serious, including a fever of over 104 degrees, weakness in fingers and toes, issues with balance, issues with eye movement, and problems speaking or swallowing. If these serious symptoms develop, then the victim should see a doctor immediately.
- PROGNOSIS Your chance of being cured depends mostly on how soon you get the treatment needed. The sooner you get the treatment, the less likely it is for the disease to develop. Once the symptoms of rabies are seen, the rabies vaccine and the immunoglobulin are not effective and death is almost certain. The mortality rate is 100%. If cured: Can you get the disease again? The question is yes, you unfortunately can. The vaccine protects the victim from the vaccine for approximately 2 years.
For references, see resources under the microbiology tab.