Rabies

Rabies

A viral, zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system and is fatal once symptoms appear.

Transmission

Spread through bites, scratches, or saliva from infected animals, primarily dogs (99% of cases).

Incubation Period

Typically 2–3 months, but can vary from one week to a year depending on the virus entry site.

Endemic Regions

Present in over 150 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, with the highest incidence in children under 15.

Symptoms

Early signs include fever and tingling at the wound site, progressing to hyperactivity, hallucinations (furious rabies), or paralysis (paralytic rabies).

Fatality

Rabies is fatal in 100% of cases once clinical symptoms appear, but deaths can be prevented with prompt post

Post

exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Prevention

Dog vaccination, bite prevention, and public awareness programs are crucial for reducing rabies transmission.

Global Burden

An estimated 59,000 rabies deaths annually, with a global cost of around US$ 8.6 billion per year.

Vaccine Availability

Effective vaccines exist for both pre

Rabies from Bats

In the Americas, bats are the primary source of rabies transmission.

Diagnosis

Difficult to diagnose clinically before symptoms appear; confirmed postmortem through viral detection in tissues.

Rabies Categories for PEP

Category I (no exposure) requires washing; Category II (minor exposure) needs vaccination; Category III (severe exposure) requires vaccination and RIG.

WHO Strategy

The "Zero by 30" goal aims to end human deaths from dog

Vaccine Quality

WHO recommends vaccines meet strict quality standards, and intradermal vaccination reduces costs by 60–80%.