Rabies: Why this Deadly Virus from Animals can Cause Sudden Death?

In general, rabies is a viral disease that is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an animal that has the rabies virus.

The rabies virus affects the central nervous system which causes encephalopathy and sudden death. Symptoms of rabies may not appear immediately upon biting of the infected animal. Usually, it has an unspecified incubation period.

Once the symptoms of rabies become apparent, the disease can’t be cured and will lead to death. This is why vaccination is encouraged especially if you have been bitten by a rabid animal, or if you will have a possible exposure to wild animals that may have the rabies virus. The first symptoms of rabies are flu-like. Meaning, the person will have fever, fatigue, and headache. Eventually, it will then progress to respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system problems. For the late symptoms of rabies, hyperactivity, aggression, paralysis, hydrophobia, and aerophobia may be apparent.  As the condition progresses, it will lead to respiratory failure which can cause death.

In the past one hundred years, rabies in the United States has changed drastically. Among the total cases of rabies, 90% are caused by wildlife animals such as bats and other wild carnivores. Unlike before, rabies deaths among humans are caused by domestic animals such as dogs.

Since the introduction of the anti-rabies vaccination, cases of rabies caused by domestic animals have declined. Aside from that, the prophylactic anti-rabies vaccination also helped a lot and proved 100% success in preventing rabies infection.

In the United States of America, the deaths caused by rabies among humans are usually caused by failure to seek immediate medical assistance. The main reason is that they don’t know that they have exposure to rabies virus.

The government of the United States of America has allotted funds for the post exposure prophylaxis for rabies. However, the exact amounts of the funds are not available. Each year, about 40,000 are receiving post exposure prophylaxis for rabies.

Vaccines which are made from rabies immunoglobulin are able to prevent rabies in animals as well as in humans, prior and post suspected exposures. In the United States of America, the vaccination of domestic animals has helped a lot in the decline of the fatality rate caused by rabies. Thus, animal vaccination is highly recommended so that rabies virus won’t infect the domestic animal.

Animal vaccinations should be encouraged and should be promoted by veterinarians and public health clinics in order to prevent the incidence of rabies.