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| a Prosperous |
| and |
| Happy New Year - 2006 |
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Hi Maria and the rest,
I will help in a little way at this present time. Many years ago I used to
write articles about pet diseases and care for the same in the Herald when I
was in Mapusa Goa (Animal Clinic) and this was way back in 1984 as Goa's
first veterinary private practitioner. I am hopeful the present vets are
educating the local people and should be working alongside human public
health especially where zoonotic diseases prevails. RABIES is a deadly
disease.
I cannot talk about whats happening in Goa at present as I have not been to
Goa for over 8 yrs but this is not a new disease and I feel that since you
have brought this up, the others can push the local vets to do more even if
it is of voluntary nature.
RABIES is a virus that can affect any warm-blooded animal; whenever someone
is bitten by an animal, the chance of rabies exists. Rabies primarily
attacks the nervous system and causes an encephalitis. The virus is
transmitted in saliva from the bite of an infected animal. The incubation
period prior to clinical signs is extremely variable, but is usually
two-to-eight weeks. The virus will begin shedding in saliva a short time
before clinical signs develop, usually less than 10 days.
For both humans and domestic animals, the primary source of rabies is the
bite of a rabid wild animal. The most common of these are jackal; raccoon,
bat, skunk and fox.Try to minimize contact between wild animals and pet
animals.Do not feed wild animals or even keep them as pets Currently, the
number of cats infected with rabies has surpassed that of dogs as there are
now more cats than dogs and cats tend to roam more often.
CLINICAL SIGNS There are 3 phases to the course of the disease: prodromal,
furious, and paralytic. Death occurs three to-seven days from the onset of
signs.
The prodomal stage lasts two-to-three days. The signs can include behavioral
changes, fever, slow eye reflexes, and chewing at the bite site.
The furious stage lasts two-to-four days. During this stage, signs of
erratic behavior may include irritability, restlessness, barking,
aggression, vicious attacks on inanimate objects, and unexplained roaming.
Disorientation and seizures may also develop.
The paralytic stage lasts two-to-four days, during which signs of paralysis
develop, usually beginning in the limb that was bitten. Paralysis of the
throat and face cause a change in the bark, drooling with typical foaming at
the mouth, and a dropped jaw. These signs are followed by depression, coma,
and death from respiratory paralysis.
ONCE CLINICAL SIGNS DEVELOP, THERE IS NO TREATMENT!!
PREVENTION IN PETS THROUGH ANNUAL VACCINATION of all pet dogs and cats must
be made mandatory through local councils especially for the poor. ALL PEOPLE
FEEDING STRAYS must also bear the responsibility of vaccinating and fixing
(speying and castrating) the animals they feed otherwise such animals must
be sent to the RSPCA or the local pound. In order to reduce the incidence of
the disease, the stray dogs being fed by people must be kept under control
and not be allowed to have litters.
The recommendations for a pet bitten by a wild animal or a known rabid
animal are as follows:
If the pet has been vaccinated, re-vaccinate and quarantine for 90 days.
If the pet has not been vaccinated, euthanize and submit tissue for rabies
testing. If the owner is unwilling to euthanize the pet, it should be
strictly quarantined for six months with vaccination one month prior to
release.
As strict as this protocol sounds, it is the proper procedure to ensure that
no one else is infected with this deadly disease.
PREVENTION IN PEOPLE
Secondly, people need to be be made aware on RABIES AWARENESS through
brochures or radios/ television about the dangers of non vaccinated pets as
well as how to treat the initial bite especially if it's a bite from a stray
animal or wild animal.If you are bitten....
....by a wild animals:, or stray animals an animal control officer should
sacrifice the animal. All biting wild animals should be tested for rabies as
soon as possible.
....By a cat or dog: obtain information about the pet animal. Include a
description of the animal and licensing number or identification, owner's
name, address and telephone number and the rabies vaccination status
whenever available.
Immediately cleanse the wound thoroughly with soapy water.Don't go packing
the wound with dressings!!! Flush the wound out with water.
Get medical attention. Go to your family doctor or nearest emergency
room.Avoid delays and early treartment is critical.Report all bites to your
local health department or animal control agency.
.
If a person is bitten by an animal that is healthy and properly vaccinated,
the animal must be quarantined for 10 days. If the bite is from a wild
animal, it should be euthanized and submitted for testing. Unfortunately
wild animals often escapes and cannot be tested. Should this happen then the
GP should decide if the victim should undergo post-exposure
vaccination.following the bite.
It is critical to keep pets vaccinated against this disease. Please contact
your local veterinarian.
There is a human rabies vaccine available for preexposure and a globulin
treatment with vaccination for postexposure prophylaxis. However, prevention
is of major importance.I am not aware of any alternate medication for
RABIES.
Joy de Souza
Queensland. Australia
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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