The virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing an inflammation of the brain and is always fatal once symptoms develop.

The rabies virus is present predominantly in the saliva of rabid animals and is usually transmitted from animal to animal and from animal to humans through the bite of a rabid animal.

Mode of transmission
All warm-blooded mammals are susceptible to rabies virus infection, but only a few species are important as reservoirs and vectors of the disease.

While bats are important as reservoirs in North America, and foxes in Europe, the chief reservoir species in Zimbabwe is the wild jackal. Rabid jackals will often and uncharacteristically encroach on human settlements and transmit the virus to domesticated animals and humans, through bites.

The infection of domesticated dogs and cats starts a typical rabies outbreak as more domesticated animals and people are put at risk. Cattle and other non-carnivore domestic animals can also infect humans although this is rare.

Apart from transmission through bites of infected animals, exposure to secretions especially saliva of infected animals directly into a fresh open wound or scratch or onto delicate mucous membranes will result in infection. Iatrogenic transmission through organ transplants has also been recorded.

Facts to note about rabies transmission:
 One cannot get rabies by patting an animal
 Saliva from an infected animal must get through the skin, usually from a bite, scratch, cut orwound.

 If a person or animal is infected with the rabies virus, it generally takes 3 to 8 weeks for the virus to multiply and cause signs and symptoms of rabies. This is relative to the closeness of the bite site to the head.

 In rare cases this period may be as short as few days or as long as several years.

 The length of the incubation period depends in part on the wound severity, wound location in relation to the nerve supply, and relative distance from the brain amount and variant of the virus, the degree of protection provided by the clothing and other factors.

 If rabies post-exposure immunizations are not begun before the infection progresses to the central nervous system, rabies is always fatal
 An animal infected with rabies virus will not live beyond 10 days following onset of clinical signs.

Signs and symptoms of rabies in humans
In humans, the incubation period is highly variable and may be 3-8 weeks or more depending on the severity and site of the wound. Clinical signs of rabies are variable.

The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to those of many other illnesses such as flu and these include
 fever,
 headache,
 general weakness,
 There may be also discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the site of bite.
These symptoms may last for days.

As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include
 insomnia,
 symptoms of cerebral dysfunction,
 anxiety, aggressiveness, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, hydrophobia (fear of water),
 hyper-salivation (increase in saliva),dysphagia (difficult of swallowing)
 Slight or partial paralysis, altered vocalization.

 Progression to death is rapid and usually occurs specifically within days of the onset of neurological symptoms. Without medical attention after the onset of symptoms the duration of the illness is usually 2-6 days, sometimes longer. Death is usually caused by respiratory paralysis and known to be accelerated by convulsions.

 In unvaccinated humans, rabies is always fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered before the onset of symptoms.

Symptoms of the paralytic form in animals
 Change in behavior to docility  Profuse salivation
 Paralysis of the throat muscles and inability to swallow
 Drooping of the lower jaw, in dogs and cattle
 General paralysis, coma and death in a few hours
 general weakness,
 There may be also discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the site of bite.

These symptoms may last for days. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include
 insomnia,
 symptoms of cerebral dysfunction,
 anxiety, aggressiveness, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, hydrophobia (fear of water),
 hyper-salivation (increase in saliva),dysphagia (difficult of swallowing)
 Slight or partial paralysis, altered vocalization.

 Progression to death is rapid and usually occurs specifically within days of the onset of neurological symptoms.

 In unvaccinated humans, rabies is always fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered before the onset of symptoms.

 Confirmed case: a suspected case that is laboratory-confirmed
Signs of rabies in animals
In domestic animals the incubation period is generally 3-12 weeks, but can range from several days to months, rarely exceeding 6 months.

There are two forms of rabies in animals: the paralytic and the furious form
Symptoms of the paralytic form in animals
 Change in behavior to docility
 Profuse salivation
 Paralysis of the throat muscles and inability to swallow
 Drooping of the lower jaw, in dogs and cattle
 General paralysis, coma and death in a few hours

Prevention measures
General prevention methods to be observed
Responsible pet ownership It is critical for owners to
 Ensure that vaccination cover in all dogs, cats up-to-date at all times
 comply with quarantine orders on any biting animals
 Take the pet to a veterinarian to receive a rabies booster If pets come into contact with a
jackal
 Keep all pets in some type of enclosure a house, fenced yard or kennel and not allowed them
to roam free.

 Keep pets on a leash when they are outside their enclosure 

Prevent uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats
 Approach the veterinarian for population control measures
 Report any suspicious animal behaviour for veterinary investigation
Avoid attracting wild animals that might have rabies into your yard or home

 Keep garbage bins covered with tight-fitting lids  Do not leave pet food outdoors

 Prevent animals from getting into your home by placing a cap on your chimney, keep garage
doors closed and eliminate places where animals can take up residency

 Exclude bats from houses and structures near homes
Avoid contact with wild animals
 If you encounter injured or orphaned wildlife, contact local animal control or a game warden
for assistance
 Never touch or pick up a wild animal without gloves

 Sick animals may be infected with rabies
 Avoid contact with stray animals and animals you do not know

If you are bitten or possibly exposed to rabies
 Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with lots of running water preferably warm using soap or povidone iodine solution.

This should not however be considered sufficient except where test results in animal samples are negative.

 If you cannot confine the biting animal, pay close attention to what it looked like and where it went so this information can be quickly shared with veterinary officers or other persons involved with trying to locate the animal for observation.
 Seek medical attention from a health care provider.
 All animal bites should be reported to veterinary officer or the local health facility or the police.

 Immunize any person with proven or probable exposure to rabies and administer rabies immunoglobulin in case of severe exposure

Pre-exposure prophylaxis
 Humans at high risk (e.g. laboratory personnel, veterinarians, handlers, wildlife personnel) must
receive pre-exposure immunization
 Pre-exposure vaccine regimen: 1 dose of Rabies vaccine, human diploid cell in IM on days 0, 7, 28 with booster every 2 years- for more information like/follow our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

Email :[email protected]

Twitter:zimonlinehealthcentre
@zimonlinehealt1