Worse than the Bite

‘‘The infected animal carries the virus in its saliva, and transmits it into the blood stream of the animal or man it bites. The virus infects the central nervous system and lodges itself in the brain, where it multiplies during the incubation period, lasting from five to 10 years. Ultimately, it causes encephalopathy and death,’’ says Bansal.

What are the symptoms in humans?
The early symptoms include fever, headache and general malaise. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, excitation, hallucination and hydrophobia.

Rabies is spread by strays, right?
Well, it’s largely found in strays, but pets—cats and dogs—need to be protected from rabies at all times. ‘‘Your pets and other domestic animals can be infected if they are bitten by rabid animals. Spillover rabies ups the risk to humans,’’ says Bansal.

How do I identify a rabid animal?
The signs include unprovoked barking and biting, fear of water and loss of appetite.

My dog was bitten. Is it in danger?
Any animal bitten or scratched by either a wild carnivorous mammal or a bat—should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies. Unvaccinated cats, dogs and ferrets exposed to a confirmed rabid animal should be euthanised immediately. Alternately, it should be isolated for six months, and vaccinated a month before release. Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Pets with valid vaccinations need to be observed for 45 days.

What if I’m bitten?
All animal bites need medical evaluation, say experts. While pet bites carry very little risk of rabies, the animal should be confined and observed for 10 days. If the pet continues to appear healthy, no anti-rabies prophylaxis is needed. If it appears ill in 10 days of quarantine, immediate medical evaluation is necessary.