Rabies is a viral infectious disease that can infect any mammal. It is transmitted from
animal to man by bites, scratches, or licks over open wounds or mucous membranes
(eyes, nose and mouth). The virus, on entering the body, slowly multiplies at the bite
of site and then enters a nerve ending. From there, it travels towards the spinal cord
and brain. Once in the brain, it starts to multiply rapidly, causing virtually inevitable
death within a few days.
This entire process from infection to the first symptoms and death takes from a week
to several years, but commonly less than three months. The victim is symptom-free
during this “incubation” period. The only way to interrupt this chain of events is by
the potent post-exposure prophylaxis with vaccine and immune globulin as soon as
possible after an exposure.
Most of the human rabies deaths that occur each year throughout the world come from
stray dog encounters. Over 95% of the worldwide rabies victims had not been
vaccinated. Although rabies can be found in all mammal (including bats), dogs are the
chief villains in Asia. Recent estimates of number of dogs in Thailand hover around 8
millions. Bangkok is home to roughly a half million. We estimate that only half of
dogs have been vaccinated against rabies at any one time.
Rabies is a viral infectious disease that can infect any mammal. It is transmitted from
animal to man by bites, scratches, or licks over open wounds or mucous membranes
(eyes, nose and mouth). The virus, on entering the body, slowly multiplies at the bite
of site and then enters a nerve ending. From there, it travels towards the spinal cord
and brain. Once in the brain, it starts to multiply rapidly, causing virtually inevitable
death within a few days.
This entire process from infection to the first symptoms and death takes from a week
to several years, but commonly less than three months. The victim is symptom-free
during this “incubation” period. The only way to interrupt this chain of events is by
the potent post-exposure prophylaxis with vaccine and immune globulin as soon as
possible after an exposure.
Most of the human rabies deaths that occur each year throughout the world come from
stray dog encounters. Over 95% of the worldwide rabies victims had not been
vaccinated. Although rabies can be found in all mammal (including bats), dogs are the
chief villains in Asia. Recent estimates of number of dogs in Thailand hover around 8
millions. Bangkok is home to roughly a half million. We estimate that only half of
dogs have been vaccinated against rabies at any one time.
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