Only ferocious animals have rabies: Busting myths about deadly viral disease

A 14-year-old boy died this week after he was bitten by a dog in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. The teenager who succumbed to rabies was attacked by the canine over a month ago but allegedly did not tell his parents about it out of fear. In view of this, the child's death has not just sparked a debate about the menace of stray dogs but has also highlighted the dangerous effects of this fatal viral disease.

Rabies is a deadly, yet preventable viral disease that primarily spreads through the bite of an infected animal.

The virus infiltrates the central nervous system of mammals, causing severe illness in the brain and ultimately leading to death.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dogs are the source of the vast majority of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99 per cent of all rabies transmissions to humans.

Other carriers of rabies include cats, jackals and mongooses.

The transmission of rabies to humans usually occurs following a deep bite or scratch from an infected animal. The virus can also spread if the saliva of an infected animal comes into direct contact with mucosa, such as the eyes or mouth, or fresh skin wounds.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF RABIES?

The initial symptoms of rabies can appear anywhere from a few days to over a year after the bite.

Early signs include a tingling, prickling, or itching sensation around the bite area, along with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue.

As the disease progresses, symptoms may evolve into cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation.

MYTHS ABOUT RABIES

Myth 1: Rabies is contracted from wild animals

Fact: One common myth is that rabies is usually contracted from wild animals like possums, foxes, or bats. However, in reality, domestic animals, particularly dogs, are the primary transmitters of the disease to humans.

Myth 2: Rabies can be cured

Fact: There is no cure for rabies or treatment for the disease. However, there is a treatment that can be given immediately after a bite or scratch to stop the infection.

Myth 3: Ferocious animals have rabies

Fact: You can’t know for sure just by looking at an animal if it has rabies. Some animals act ferociously or behave strangely, such as nocturnal animals being out in the daytime.

Many will behave more tamely than usual and allow humans to approach. Animals with rabies are described as foaming at the mouth because they produce more saliva than usual.

Myth 4: Indoor pets are safe

Fact: Another misconception is that indoor pets are safe from rabies. The truth is, that any mammal can contract rabies, and it can only be passed to another animal or a person through saliva.

Myth 5: If you're bitten by vaccinated dogs, you don't need a rabies vaccine

Fact: This is another myth about rabies. Even if a dog is vaccinated, you need to go to a doctor if you've been bitten by one for a close examination. Post-exposure vaccination might be needed.

IS THERE ANY TREATMENT FOR RABIES?

Rabies is a serious concern due to its high fatality rate. There is currently no test for rabies in live animals, and no treatment is available once symptoms develop.

However, rabies can be prevented through vaccination of pets and immediate post-exposure prophylaxis in humans, which includes thorough wound washing and a series of rabies vaccinations.

Despite the severity of the disease, rabies is often overlooked and underreported, especially in developing countries where it causes tens of thousands of deaths every year.

The World Health Organisation aims to minimize zero human rabies deaths by 2030 through a One Health approach, which involves multiple sectors and local communities in building awareness and conducting mass dog vaccination campaigns.