How does Rabies spread to humans?
How Does Rabies Spread to Humans? Is it Fatal?
In humans, rabies is fatal. It can lead to seizures, hallucinations, and eventually paralysis when left unaddressed for a long period. Since dogs are mostly vaccinated in the US, you can only catch this virus through bat bites or other wild animal bites. There’s a chance to survive the infection if you get vaccinated immediately after getting bitten.
However, the condition could be fatal if you start noticing the symptoms. Humans contract rabies when they are severely scratched or bitten by an animal. The saliva of an infected animal enters your nerves through the open wound and travels slowly toward your nervous system. It becomes fatal once it enters your brain and the spinal cord. People infected with this virus can go into a coma.
Do you know that 59,000 people worldwide are likely to die from rabies annually? But fortunately, most people get vaccinated after exposure. Vaccination is compulsory if you are bitten by a street dog or a wild animal that might have rabies. If it’s a pet dog vaccinated for rabies, then there is no worry. Even if it bites you, you won’t need vaccination. Incubation (the gap between the day you got infected with rabies and the day you started showing symptoms) can occur at different times in people.
The good news is that rabies takes a long time to reach your nervous system. Like in dogs, it may take weeks and months before the virus infects your brain. Remember that an infected person can only be saved if they get vaccinated during incubation. Once the symptoms start showing up, it is a sign that the virus is spreading fast and has most likely reached your nervous system. There’s no cure, then. In the final stage, the infected person goes into a coma and dies.
What Rabies Symptoms in Humans?
You don’t see any signs of rabies after you have caught the infection. This phase might last for several weeks. The symptoms start when rabies attacks your nervous system. Initially, you will have flu-like symptoms. Later, you might report neurological issues. Here are a few common symptoms that can occur if you are infected with rabies.
●Extreme fatigue
●Fever
●Pain in the muscles
●Inability to swallow
●Cough
●Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
●Sore throat
Neurological symptoms can vary from person to person. Like dogs, humans might notice symptoms that are either furious or paralytic. Or, the patient can have alternate episodes of furious and paralytic symptoms. This includes the following:
●Seizures followed by hallucinations
●Fever
●Fast heartbeat
●Aerophobia or hydrophobia
●Facial paralysis
●Too much saliva in the mouth
●Muscle twitching
How to Prevent the Rabies Transmit?
Dog roam unleashed in forests can help ensure they never get bitten by a wild animal. Rabies can also transmit from one dog to another, so it’s important to get your dog checked immediately if they had a fight with a street dog or other animals. If your dog comes home scratched or wounded, take them to a vet. They will order rabies tests to ensure the dog has not caught any virus.
Once again, it’s important that you seek professional help instead of waiting around. Kids tend to spend a lot of time with pups, and, as mentioned earlier, they don’t need to get bitten by a dog to contract rabies from them. If they come in contact with the dog’s saliva, there’s a chance they might get infected. The chances are extremely high if their nose, mouth, or eyes are exposed to the animal’s saliva. You may have to get rid of the infected dog, as it poses health risks for your family and other animals. Euthanizing them is the most viable option, but some vets recommend you send the dog to an assessment facility.
