Watch out, animal grin!
Rabies is a naturally occurring viral disease of animals and humans that ends in death. Rabies affects all mammals.
It can be infected from a sick animal through bites, scratches, when saliva enters through damaged skin surfaces, as well as through contact with objects contaminated with infected saliva. It is possible to get infected by contact with animal skin contaminated with the virus.
From domestic animals, dogs and cats are most often the source of infection of people, from wild animals-foxes, wolves, raccoon dogs and various rodents. In order to avoid infecting humans and pets with rabies, it is necessary to follow several rules that children should remember especially before they are allowed to go for a walk: avoid contact with stray domestic and wild animals. Do not try to pet them, feed them, etc.; do not try to catch an animal, even if it is small and seemingly harmless; if a wild or stray pet behaves unusually (lack of fear of a person, excessive aggressiveness or, conversely, affectionateness, the desire to gnaw and eat inedible objects, excessive salivation and other uncharacteristic behavioral reactions), do not allow stray and wild animals to contact your pet during a walk. If a pet comes into contact with a stray or wild animal, it is necessary to take the animal to a veterinary clinic within 48 hours.
With any disease of the animal, and especially with the appearance of symptoms of rabies (inappropriate behavior, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, convulsions, photophobia), immediately contact the nearest veterinary clinic, in no case do not self-medicate. Victims of bites should be aware that the causative agent of rabies can be in the saliva of a sick animal for 10 days before the first signs of the disease appear.
In order to prevent rabies, all people who have suffered from bites, scratches, and drooling by animals should immediately seek medical help at a trauma center at their place of residence for a course of anti-rabies vaccinations. Be careful and alert! In case of contact with a wild animal: immediately wash the wound, scratches and all places where saliva has got on, with a soap solution for at least 15 minutes, then with tap water. It is necessary to treat the edges of the wound with a 5% tincture of iodine; as soon as possible, contact the trauma center at your place of residence to a traumatologist who will prescribe a course of preventive vaccinations.
Vaccinations are the only way to save yourself from rabies!
Chief Specialist in Infectious Diseases
RCD of the Lipetsk region
Volodina L. V.
