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ABOUT RABIES

RABIES remains a public health problem in the Philippines. It is a highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the saliva of a rabid animal. The rabies virus is transmitted to man through bite by a rabid animal or through contamination with virus laden saliva on breaks in the skin and of the eyes, lips and mouth and is characterized by hydrophobia, muscle spasm, and paralysis. Approximately 300 to 600 Filipinos die of rabies every year. Our country ranked third worldwide in rabies incidence in 2000. In Zamboanga City, an average of 5 deaths was reported during the period from 2002-2004. (Source: OCVET)

Rabies is an infectious disease of animals caused by a bullet-shaped, enveloped RNA virus, 180 x 75 nm. Man is occasionally infected, and once infection is established in the CNS, the outcome is almost invariably fatal.

It is acquired from virus in saliva entering a bite wound caused by an infected animal, usually a rabid dog. The severity of the bite determines the risk of infection. The disease does not usually spread from man to man.

.: Clinical Signs in Dogs

There are three phases to the course of the disease: prodromal, furious, and paralytic. Death occurs three to-seven days from the onset of signs.
The prodromal stage lasts two-to-three days. The signs can include behavioral changes, fever, slow eye reflexes, and chewing at the bite site.

The furious stage lasts two-to-four days. During this stage, signs of erratic behavior may include irritability, restlessness, barking, aggression, vicious attacks on inanimate objects, and unexplained roaming. Disorientation and seizures may also develop.

The paralytic stage lasts two-to-four days, during which signs of paralysis develop, usually beginning in the limb that was bitten. Paralysis of the throat and face cause a change in the bark, drooling with typical foaming at the mouth, and a dropped jaw. These signs are followed by depression, coma, and death from respiratory paralysis.
Once clinical signs develop, there is no treatment.
(Source: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/rabies.html)

INCUBATION PERIOD, SYMPTOMS, PREVENTION,
CONTROL, VACCINATION

.: INCUBATION PERIOD

After inoculation, the virus enters small nerve endings at the site of the bite. The virus slowly travels up the nerve to reach the CNS where it replicates and then travels down nerves to the salivary glands where there is further replication. The time it takes to do this depends upon the length of the nerve - a bite on the foot will have a very much longer incubation period than a bite on the face. The incubation period may last from two weeks to six months. Very often the primary wound is healed and forgotten by the time of clinical presentation.
(Source: http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/mmi/jmoodie/rabies2.html)

Rabies primarily attacks the nervous system and causes encephalitis. The virus is transmitted in saliva from the bite of an infected animal. The incubation period prior to clinical signs is extremely variable, but is usually two-to-eight weeks. The virus will begin shedding in saliva a short time before clinical signs develop, usually less than 10 days.
The virus lies dormant in the nerves for a period of time that varies from a few days to months. This is called the incubation period. If treatment is sought immediately and received during the incubation period, recovery is likely. The incubation period in humans averages 60 days. After the incubation period, the virus travels through the nerves to the brain. This is when symptoms first appear. Death occurs within a few days of the onset of symptoms.

.: SYMPTOMS

Rabies affects the nervous system. Easily identifiable symptoms in animals include unusual behavior. Wild animals may act aggressively towards inanimate objects or lose their fear of humans and act friendly.

"Foaming at the mouth" may be present during the later stages of the disease, or not at all. "Foaming at the mouth" is caused by excessive drooling, throat muscle spasms or paralysis, and involuntary jaw movements that turn excessive drool into foam.

Early symptoms in humans include pain or numbness at the sight of the bite, fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, depression, apprehension, anxiety, insomnia, and/or agitation and aggressive behavior. Symptoms rapidly progress to include paralysis, throat spasms, delirium, hallucinations, coma, irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia), and death.

.: PREVENTION

People who have been bitten by a rabid animal are given a series of five rabies vaccinations and a single injection of rabies immune globulin (rabies antibodies). This process is considered to be 100% effective when administered within 14 days of rabies exposure.
In the event of a rabies exposure, immediately flushing a bite wound with soap and water for five minutes will greatly reduce the chance of infection.

.: CONTROL

The spread of rabies is most effectively controlled by vaccinating domestic animals against the disease. All dogs are required by law to be currently vaccinated against rabies.

.: VACCINATION

Dogs over 4 months of age must be vaccinated against rabies once a year. Three-year vaccinations are also available.
You will receive a rabies vaccination certificate and a rabies tag from your veterinarian. This is your rabies registration. Keep your certificate in a safe place. It is your proof of rabies vaccination status.
Attach the tag to your pet's collar for identification and proof of vaccination. Your pet must wear the tag.