Rabies Awareness Guide What Facts Should Every Family Know?

One should know what rabies is and how to prevent rabies in their house, regardless of the presence of pets, children, or spending much time outdoors. It is important because rabies is a deadly viral disease that attacks the nervous system, and after symptoms have appeared, rabies turns out to be practically always deadly. However, this is one of the most preventable diseases through timely vaccination, responsible pet keeping, and immediate treatment of an injury from an unknown animal. Knowledge of the facts about the transmission of rabies and prevention measures can help in saving people’s lives.

What is Rabies? The Ways of Transferring Rabies

It is a disease that can be transmitted to a person from another living creature due to bites or scratches with the saliva of a rabid animal. Rabies is still the major source of human deaths in the world, although bats, raccoons, foxes, and some other wild animals can carry this virus.

A dog or any other wild animal cannot transmit the rabies virus via casual contact (like touching an animal). The virus can be spread by saliva that gets into an open wound or the eyes, nose, or mouth, however.

The leading source of rabies is infected animals. The virus can also be spread by scratches that are contaminated with saliva.

Prompt wound treatment and medical treatment are essential following any type of exposure that is suspected.

Rabies Awareness is important

Education about the disease is very important for rabies, as the disease is almost invariably fatal when symptoms occur. The best protection is prevention. Children are at a special risk since they may unwittingly go near an unknown animal or not report a bite.

Educating children to avoid contact with wild or stray animals and alerting them to any bites or scratches, and educating adults to alert them to any bite or scratch will significantly reduce the risk of infection.

Stay away from or do not come into contact with any animals whose identity or history is unknown.

Ensure that all animals in your household have received vaccinations in accordance with the required standards.

Prompt treatment after an animal bite/scratch.

Signs of Rabies in animals.

Early signs of rabies can be identified, helping to prevent further exposure. Infected animals may:

• Become overly aggressive or overly docile.
• Drool excessively.
• Have difficulty swallowing.
• Display confusion and/or paralysis.
• Display abnormal behaviour or fearlessness.

In case any of these symptoms appear in an animal, stay away from it and report immediately to the nearest veterinary officer.

What to Do After a Possible Rabies Exposure

In case an animal attacks or bites you or any other member of your family,

• Wash the wound using soap under running water for 15 minutes or more.
• If available, apply an antiseptic.
• Go right away to a health care provider or the emergency clinic.
• Report to local health or animal control officials. Take post-exposure prophylaxis as recommended by your physician to prevent the onset of rabies.

Prompt action can be the difference between prevention and infection.

Prevention of rabies in your family and pets.

Proper pet ownership and education of communities play an important role in the prevention of this disease.

• Make sure that your pets get vaccinated.
• Do not handle any stray animal.
• Monitor your children when playing outside.
• Avoid feeding or handling any wildlife.
• Vet checkups should be frequent.
• Community education on rabies is vital.

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