Rabies is a disease that many people have heard of in one way or another. It can occur in any season, and reports of outbreaks are alarmingly increasing. In addition to being dangerous to animals, humans are also at risk of contracting the disease from bites. Therefore, let's learn about this disease so everyone can see the seriousness of rabies and prepare for it.
Getting to know rabies
“Rabies” or “hydrophobia” It is a disease caused by the Rabies virus, which can be transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, entering through bites, scratches, or simply by an infected animal licking the wound, it can cause infection. In addition, this virus can also enter through mucous membranes such as the conjunctiva of the eyes, nose, and mouth, even if the mucous membranes are not wounded. This makes rabies very severe in all mammals, including humans. All mammals can be infected with rabies, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, horses, or even wild animals such as raccoons, foxes, and ferrets. This disease can be found all over the world. Animals infected with rabies act as carriers of the virus through their saliva until the animal dies.
Misconceptions about rabies
1. Rabies is prevalent only in summer.
This is a misconception because the virus thrives in winter, but in fact, both animals and humans can become infected in any season.
2. Animals that are kept indoors do not need to be vaccinated.
This is a misconception because all mammals are susceptible to rabies and infected animals may enter our home and bite our pets without our knowledge. Therefore, it is important to have your pets vaccinated for rabies annually.
3. Get vaccinated and prevent disease immediately. 100%
This is a misunderstanding, as vaccines are viruses that have been injected into the body to induce a response by building up immunity against the disease. Therefore, it takes approximately 2-3 weeks or more to achieve full immunity. Building immunity against disease also depends on the body's strength. If the body is not strong, it may not be able to build up its full immunity. Therefore, even after vaccination, caution must still be exercised when exposing our animals to strangers.
Rabies symptoms
Infected animals will show symptoms within 14-90 days, or longer, with an average of about 21 days. Symptoms vary from animal to animal. The Thai Red Cross Society has described the symptoms of animals suffering from rabies as follows: 2 types is
1. Fierce type
The animal will become irritated, excited, run around, and bite people and other animals. The dog will show these symptoms for about 2-3 days. After that, it will become weak, its hind legs will lose strength, it will walk unsteadily, and eventually die.
2. Lethargic type
This type of symptom is harder to notice because the animal will have symptoms similar to other diseases such as the flu or distemper. Symptoms include a hanging tongue, an inability to open or close the mouth, a stiff, paralytic body, and some animals will have seizures and eventually die.
If you are unsure, you should take your animal to a veterinarian for examination, as some animals may have rabies but show no symptoms.
Prevention guidelines
When our pets are bitten by other animals, the first thing to do is take them to a veterinarian to treat the wound and consider vaccination options. Although rabies is a serious disease for which there is no cure, it can be prevented by vaccination to stimulate the body's immunity to fight the virus, along with symptomatic treatment. Pet owners should therefore take them for rabies vaccinations starting at 3 months of age and then get another booster at 4 months of age, then get a booster once a year.
If your pet has been continuously vaccinated against rabies but is bitten by another animal suspected of having rabies, it is recommended to immediately revaccinate it and quarantine it separately from others for 45 days, providing it with normal food and water to observe for any signs of disease. If not, release it to live a normal life and continue vaccinating it annually.
If an animal has never been vaccinated or has not been vaccinated consistently and contracts rabies, the owner must immediately get it vaccinated after being bitten and quarantine it for six months, including observation for symptoms. If any symptoms of the disease appear, according to international convention, euthanasia or lethal injection must be performed immediately.
In the case of humans, if an animal bites or licks the wound or mucous membrane, it is important to wash the wound with soap and water immediately and seek medical attention immediately for treatment and to determine if a rabies vaccine or Hyperimmune Serum is required. If possible, the suspected animal should be quarantined and its symptoms observed.
Although rabies vaccines have been reported to protect against rabies for up to five years, Thailand is a high-end country, so it's recommended that you have your pet vaccinated annually. People living in high-risk areas and who regularly come into contact with animals should also get vaccinated. Additionally, avoid touching, handling, or feeding animals with unknown histories, and avoid approaching animals with unusual behavior to prevent infection.
Rabies is a highly dangerous disease for animals and humans. Knowing this, anyone who owns or is considering raising an animal should get their pet vaccinated against this disease to prevent dangers that can even be fatal. And don't forget to get your pet vaccinated again every year.
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References
Dr. Piyoros Pothiphongthorn (Dr. Muey), veterinarian in the Neurology Department, Internal Medicine Department, and Surgery Department, Talingchan Animal Hospital.
Eidas. Rabies. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from Eidas: www.eidas.vet.chula.ac.th/node/390
World Health Organization. Rabies. From World Health Organization : www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/.
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