Rabies is a fatal disease that is caused by a virus transmitted from animals to humans. Most of the time it is spread through an animal's infected saliva entering the bloodstream of a human host. The saliva can enter the bloodstream through a bite or a scratch.
Fact 1 -- Deaths
Rabies occurs everywhere and kills at least 55,000 people per year. The vast majority of deaths are in Africa and Asia, where many countries have substandard health care.
Fact 2 -- Transmission
Most human cases of rabies are due to transmission of the virus through dog bites. Other animals that can carry the rabies virus include cats, raccoons, skunks, bats and livestock.
Fact 3 -- Symptoms
Early symptoms of rabies in humans are similar to the flu, with fever and fatigue. The rabies virus then damages the central nervous and respiratory systems. The final stages may include paralysis or hyperactivity and then coma and death.
Fact 4 -- Treatment
Once symptoms of rabies appear in humans, no treatment is possible, and the infected person almost always dies within a week.
Fact 5 -- Exposure
If you are exposed to rabies, the wound or exposure site should be cleaned and disinfected immediately. An anti-rabies vaccine must also be administered as soon as possible.
Tags: rabies virus, symptoms rabies