Keep your loved ones safe from rabies

September 28 was World Rabies Day and this year’s theme, Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths, will highlight the connection of the environment with both people and animals.

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 55 000 human deaths occur worldwide per year due to canine rabies – accounting for one death and 300 exposures every 15 minutes.

Almost all human fatalities occur in developing countries, with 56% occurring in Asia and 44% in Africa.

“For us to reach the public, we must raise awareness around the impact of rabies on humans and animals. We also have to educate on how to control it with dog vaccinations and how to ensure people get the appropriate post-exposure treatment if exposed to the virus,” said Dr Didi Claassen, Afrivet executive for technical and marketing support.

Dr Claassen was also recently appointed as the vice-chairperson for the RAG (Rabies Advisory Group). This group includes representatives from the national and provincial veterinary services, the Department of Health, the NICD, the different rabies laboratories, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, the South African Veterinary Association and academic institutions.

“The government is already doing a great job through their continuous vaccination campaigns in the rural population. Private veterinarians are also doing their utmost to advocate for pet owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats.

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“A perspective that could make a huge difference is to focus on responsible pet ownership. We need to teach children, the biggest risk group, how to be good pet owners and how to identify behavioural changes in pets. Not only will this prevent rabies-induced bites and dog bites in general, but will help to create an environment where both humans and pets can co-exist”, said Claassen.

Afrivet reminds companion pet owners – those living on farms and homesteads and also those in the city – that rabies is 100% preventable. Vaccination of domestic dogs and cats is mandatory by law.

It remains the responsibility of pet owners to ensure that their pets are vaccinated and also to be aware that people who may have been exposed to the rabies virus receive the correct post-exposure treatment immediately.

Carlie’s story

The story of Carlie du Plessis, who was only six years old when she died from this deadly disease, as told and shared by her aunt, Werna Venter:

“On July 15, 2016, Carlie started to feel sick. On the Saturday, she was taken to the doctor as she was experiencing symptoms including headaches, body aches, and nausea.

“On July 17, she was admitted to hospital to check her lungs, but then quickly deteriorated and lost all feeling in her legs. The same day Carlie’s heart suddenly stopped and she passed away.

“By the next Wednesday, it was confirmed that Carlie passed away of rabies – a disease that none of her family members or doctors had even thought of as a possibility.”

The heart-breaking fact is that Carlie might have already contracted rabies a year before her death through a dog lick on a scratch or small wound. This is something a child would not necessarily mention to their parents, especially if the animal showed no visible signs of rabies.

Unfortunately, Carlie’s family will never know how and when she was infected. They are intensely focused on creating awareness around rabies on their Facebook page, pleading with the media and broader community to be aware of rabies because it is preventable.

They cannot bring Carlie back, but they can make a difference by spreading the word about rabies and its deadly result.

Vaccination

Vaccination is the only way to save lives. During September, several private veterinary practices provide rabies vaccinations at no/or reduced costs.

Free rabies vaccinations are given by the local provincial veterinary services. Information about rabies campaigns is available from your local state veterinary office in your province.

Know what to do

Assume the worst if an animal bites you or a loved one and get immediate treatment rather than waiting for symptoms to arise.

Share these protocols with as many people around you so that every person knows what to do in a case of a suspected rabies outbreak:

1. Keep track of where the suspected animal is and inform state veterinary services.

2. Contact your medical doctor.

3. Whilst waiting for medical assistance, wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. This dilutes the amount of virus in the wound.

4. The suspected rabid animal will be euthanised if it was not vaccinated appropriately. The animal will then be tested for rabies using brain material.

5. If it is vaccinated it will be quarantined for 10 days to assess its symptoms. If it dies within those 10 days it will be tested for rabies.

6. The exposed person must immediately receive post-exposure prophylactic (PEP) treatment. You should never wait for the animal’s test results before seeking PEP. The PEP treatment should start on the day of exposure or as soon as possible after that. This might seem minor, but it is a major issue in practice and is the difference between life or death – especially if the person was exposed on the face. The exposed person can receive antibodies (rabies immunoglobulins – RIG) to combat the virus at the site of infection. It depends on the exposure category. If there was blood, even a drop, visible after the interaction with the animal, RIG should be received. People who have been vaccinated against rabies donate their plasma containing antibodies against the rabies virus to help treat people who have been exposed but not previously vaccinated. If the human RIG is not available, they make use of equine antibodies. The correct and complete post-exposure treatment protocol is the only way to prevent death as a result of rabies.

7. Once a person starts to show symptoms, there is nothing else that can be done.

8. The incubation period (time between exposure to the virus and showing rabies symptoms) can be anything from a week to several months or even years. This depends on where the virus has entered the body. For example, it will take longer for the virus to travel via the nerves to the brain of the patient from a wound on the foot, vs a patient that was bitten on the face. This is why immediate and correct PEP is so important. Once the virus has entered the nervous system there is not much that can be done for the patient.

Facts to remember about rabies

• Mammals and humans alike can be infected by rabies.

• Rabies is 100% fatal.

• Rabies is 100% preventable.

• The state vaccination campaigns provide free vaccines.

• Rabies isn’t limited to occurrence in rural areas, but also in urban areas.

• Anti-vaccination campaigns in humans shouldn’t affect vaccination for pets.

• State veterinary services are involved in the diagnosis of a rabid animal. Officials must be called immediately after exposure to collect the animal in question and have it tested.

• The only way you can test for rabies is by collecting and submitting an animal’s brain, which means it must be killed first.

• Sadly, most rabies fatalities occur in children as children are more inclined to touch animals than adults.

Unfortunately, because a lick, scratch or bite doesn’t always present as ‘serious’ in the eyes of the parent, they might not seek medical attention until the child presents symptoms and then it is already too late.

• Adults must educate their children about rabies and responsible pet ownership to save their lives.

• With the school holidays coming up, it is important to remember not to pick up stray dogs when on holiday in other regions and take them home. This is how rabies can break out in a region that may not have an outbreak at the time. Rather, inform the local welfare services in the area to assist, inspect and rescue the stray animals. Not all animals with rabies will look sick or aggressive, especially shortly after being exposed.

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