Lyssaviruses
Rabies
What is rabies?
- Rabies is a disease that causes inflammation to the brain in mammals.
- The time frame before symptoms appear is based on the distance the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system.
- Rabies is considered serious and can be fatal.
How the rabies virus gets inside you:
- Rabies is found in the nervous tissue in mammals.
- The virus makes its way to the brain.
- Rabies is spread through a bite from an infected mammal.
Treatment:
- There is no treatment for rabies once you are infected.
- If bitten by a animal you can get a fast-acting shot to prevent the virus from infecting you. Part of the injection is given near the area where the animal bit you, and should be given as soon as possible after you are bitten.
- Another option is a series of rabies vaccines to help your body learn to identify and fight rabies. These Rabies vaccines are given as injections in your arm. Four shots are given over a 14 day period.
- Being infected with rabies is much more dangerous than the side effects of the vaccine.
- Side effects of rabies vaccine include: pain, swelling, itching or redness where the shot was given, headache, dizziness, muscle pain and nausea.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle spasms
- Confusion
- Aggressiveness