Beware of rabies this summer

While it’s a preventable disease, multiple cases of rabies are reported every year.

Summer may be a dream for outdoor enthusiasts, as the days are longer and hiking and camping trips can be extended. However, it also means added exposure to outdoor health risks such as rabies.

Rabies is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans. It attacks the central nervous system and can cause brain damage and inflammation in the spinal cord. Once you exhibit symptoms, the disease has reached a stage where it is fatal. However, rabies can be prevented with a human rabies vaccine.

How rabies gets transmitted from animals to humans

Rabies can affect both domestic and wild animals. Humans are usually infected through:

• Domestic animals: Dogs are the main source of human rabies infections; livestock, such as cattle and sheep, can also infect humans.
• Wild animals: Wild animals in South Africa, such as jackals, seals, bat-eared foxes, yellow mongooses, and aardwolves, also carry the disease.
• Transmission through saliva: Rabies usually spreads when a person is bitten or scratched by an infected animal. The virus can also enter the body if infectious saliva comes into contact with a fresh wound or if it touches the eyes, nose, or mouth.

What rabies symptoms look like

Rabies is extremely difficult to diagnose before symptoms appear. When symptoms do appear, they can affect people in different ways. Some may become confused, aggressive, or produce excessive saliva, while others may develop paralysis or become increasingly drowsy or unconscious. Healthcare workers rely on clinical history and exposure details to assess risk, especially whether they have been bitten by an animal that could have had rabies.

Rabies symptoms usually appear 2 weeks to 3 months after exposure, but in rare cases, they may take up to 2 years to develop.

What you can do to prevent rabies

If you travel to remote areas where there is plenty of wildlife, or you work with domesticated animals such as dogs and cats regularly, these are the preventative measures you can take to protect yourself from rabies:

• Get a human rabies vaccine
• Wash all wounds and scratches immediately with soap and water.
• Flush the area thoroughly with clean water for at least 15 minutes.
• Seek urgent medical care for post-exposure prophylaxis, which will be provided according to the category of exposure.
• Contact veterinary services or animal health technicians immediately to assess the suspected rabid animal.
• Do not attempt to approach or capture the animal yourself.

Prevention is always better than cure; to avoid contracting rabies, avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and wildlife, and teach your children not to approach stray animals. Keeping your pets vaccinated is also important.