Prevention of rabies

On the territory of the Lipetsk region in 2019, there is a decline in the epizootic process of rabies, as of 28.09.2019, 13 cases of animal diseases were registered, which is 10 times less than in the same period of 2018. The main source of infection is dogs (53.8%), cats-30 %, foxes and cattle-7.6% each. The population's requests for anti-rabies care have decreased, but remain high, currently 3,325 requests have been registered (in 2018 – 4,173).

Rabies is a viral infectious disease. It proceeds with the defeat of the central nervous system and ends with the death of the patient.

The main sources of the rabies virus in nature are wild animals (foxes, wolves, raccoon dogs), but domestic animals, including dogs and cats, can also get rabies. For humans, it is dangerous not only to bite, but also to get the saliva of the animal on the mucous membranes and skin. It should be noted that the pathogen appears in the saliva at the end of the incubation (latent) period of the disease, a few days before the appearance of signs of the disease in the animal, when the animal seems healthy, but its bite is already dangerous.

Signs of rabies in various animals have their own characteristics:

• dogs first refuse to eat, become restless, they have a phobia of water, photophobia, and then there is a phase of excitement, when the animal runs and begins to bite everyone who gets in the way;
• cats are characterized by aggression, when they pounce on anyone;
• foxes lose their vigilance in relation to humans and human habitation, cease to be afraid of humans and can appear on roads, streets of settlements, as well as enter houses, wander around surrounded by domestic animals. At the same time, the behavior of foxes is particularly aggressive, a sick fox without any provoking circumstances attacks people, domestic and farm animals.

In humans, the incubation period of the disease, depending on the location of the bite or saliva, can last from 6 days to 1 year. The most dangerous bites are in the face, neck, fingers and hands of runes.

The symptoms of rabies in humans are quite characteristic. The first signs of the disease: itching, aching pain at the site of the bite, sad mood, insomnia, terrible dreams, poor appetite, vomiting, palpitations, difficulty breathing. Then there is excitement, convulsive muscle contractions, the patient can not swallow a sip of water, the sight of which causes him convulsions, (hydrophobia), there is an air phobia when blowing air. The disease very quickly passes into the stage of paralysis. On the 3-8 day of the disease, the patient dies from paralysis of the cardiovascular and respiratory centers.

What to do if bitten or drooled by a pet or wild animal?

• Immediately wash the wound, scratches, the place where the saliva got, with a trickle of water and soap, treat the edges of the wound with 70% alcohol or tincture of iodine. If the wound is bleeding, if the bleeding is not life-threatening, do not stop the bleeding immediately. Perhaps the virus that came with the saliva of the bitten animal will be removed with the blood,
• Be sure to contact the nearest trauma center, where they will perform primary surgical treatment of the wound and prescribe a course of therapeutic and preventive anti-rabies immunization. Currently, there are only 6 injections, which are prescribed according to the scheme. Any deviation from the scheme is fraught with serious consequences, Refusal of immunization-the risk of losing your life!

Do not risk your health and life! Take care of yourself and be healthy!

A source: Prevention of rabies