9 Facts About Rabies

On Aug 22, a 44-year-old man from Jalan Matang, Kuching, Sarawak died of rabies and he was the 12th person to have succumbed to the disease in the state.  According to the Federal Health Ministry, the man died of rabies encephalitis at the Sarawak General Hospital where he was admitted on Aug 16.

The man had claimed that he was not bitten by any dog or other animal but he had hit a stray dog that had bitten his wife on Jan 13.

On June 30 last year, an epidemic was declared in Sarawak after the disease claimed its 11th victim.

Here are 9 facts about rabies that we should know:

1. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear

The disease affects domestic and wild animals, and is spread to people through close contact with infectious material, usually saliva, via bites or scratches. Early symptoms include fever, and often pain or an unusual tingling sensation around the wound. Thorough cleansing and immunisation within a few hours after contact with a suspected rabid animal can prevent the onset of the disease.

2. Rabies is present on all continents except the Antarctica

Thousands of people die from rabies every year with 95% of human deaths occurring in Africa and Asia. Rabies is a neglected disease of poor and vulnerable populations whose deaths are rarely reported. It occurs mainly in remote communities where measures to prevent animal to human transmission have not been implemented.

3. Besides dogs, bats and other animals can also transmit rabies

Although dogs are the source of the vast majority of human rabies deaths, particularly in Africa and Asia, bats are the main cause of infection in the Americas. Recent cases of bat rabies have also emerged in Australia and western Europe. Human deaths following exposure to foxes, raccoons, skunks, jackals, mongooses and other carnivore host species are very rare.

4. 40 per cent of people bitten by rabid dogs are under the age of 15

Although all age groups are susceptible, children, due to their playful nature, often approach dogs without fear of attack or awareness of the disease. Many studies have revealed that children tend to conceal their bite wounds from parents for fear of being scolded. Often it is too late to save their lives by the time symptoms appear.

5. Prompt treatment after a dog bite is essential for survival

The wound must be washed immediately and thoroughly with soap and water, followed by treatment with post-exposure prophylaxis. This involves a course of vaccines and, in some cases, immunoglobulins.  Every year, more than 15 million people receive a post exposure vaccination against rabies. This prevents the disease from spreading, and is estimated to stop hundreds of thousands of rabies deaths around the world.

6.Mass dog vaccination breaks the transmission pathway

Rabies is a vaccine preventable disease. Vaccinating at least 70 per cent of dogs, including strays, prevents rabies being passed to humans and breaks the transmission pathway.

7.Dog vaccination is more cost-effective than human post-exposure prophylaxis

Preventing human rabies through management of canine population is a realistic approach for large parts of Africa and Asia. This investment is also more cost-effective as it avoids post-exposure prophylaxis, which is usually much more expensive. For many patients bitten by a rabid animal, post-exposure treatment can cost many times the patients’ average daily income.

8.Registering and monitoring household pets protects against rabies

Free dog vaccination and registration provides owners with a worthwhile incentive to pay particular attention to their pets. During dog registration, the animal is usually issued with a license-identifying number and logged for being vaccinated against rabies. This offers protection from the disease and reduces the risk of transmission to humans.

9.Education is the key to preventing bites from rabid animals

Teaching children how to avoid animal bites is an essential component of rabies control and prevention.

Source: World Health Organization