Changes

'''Rabies''' is known as "la rage" in French, "tollwut" in German, "rabia" in Spanish, "rabbia" in Italian, “狂犬病” in Chinese, "kichaa cha mwba" in Swahili.

'''Rabies''' is a distinctly horrifying [[Disease|disease]] which kills more than

 

 

 

Rabies is a distinctly horrifying [[Disease|disease]]. Rabies kills more than

50,000 people a year in [[Africa]] and [[Asia]]. Children are at greatest

50,000 people a year in [[Africa]] and [[Asia]]. Children are at greatest

risk from rabies as they are more likely to be bitten by [[Dog| dogs]], and

risk from rabies as they are more likely to be bitten by [[Dog| dogs]], and

are also more likely to be bitten in high-risk sites on the body,

are also more likely to be bitten in high-risk sites on the body,

such as the head and neck.

such as the head and neck.

The psychological impact of rabies can be enormous as the bite of

The psychological impact of rabies can be enormous as the bite of

a rabid dog can lead to months of [[anxiety]] while victims are

a rabid dog can lead to months of [[anxiety]] while victims are

==Facts about rabies==

==Facts about rabies==

#Rabies is caused by a virus (from the genus ''Lyssavirus'') which attacks the [[Central Nervous System| nervous system]].

*Rabies is caused by a virus (from the genus ''Lyssavirus'') which attacks the [[Central Nervous System| nervous system]].

#Almost all human cases (about 95%) are due to bites from domestic dogs, but all mammals can suffer from rabies and all can potentially transmit the virus to humans.

*Almost all human cases (about 95%) are due to bites from domestic dogs, but all mammals can suffer from rabies and all can potentially transmit the virus to humans.

#Following a dog bite, a victim can suffer months of anxiety, fearing that rabies may develop. Once the symptoms develop, rabies is invariably fatal.

*Following a dog bite, a victim can suffer months of anxiety, fearing that rabies may develop. Once the symptoms develop, rabies is invariably fatal.

#More than 55,000 people die of rabies every year in Africa and Asia.

*More than 55,000 people die of rabies every year in Africa and Asia.

#60-70% of victims of rabies are children aged 5-15; probably 100 children die of the disease every day.

*60-70% of victims of rabies are children aged 5-15; probably 100 children die of the disease every day.

#Every rabies death is preventable with currently available vaccines.

*Every rabies death is preventable with currently available vaccines.

#The first rabies vaccination was developed by Louis Pasteur and given to a boy badly bitten by a rabid dog on July 6, 1885.  The boy survived.

*The first rabies vaccination was developed by Louis Pasteur and given to a boy badly bitten by a rabid dog on July 6, 1885.  The boy survived.

#Rabies can be effectively controlled in animal populations by vaccination. If 70% of the animal population is vaccinated, human cases are eliminated.

*Rabies can be effectively controlled in animal populations by vaccination. If 70% of the animal population is vaccinated, human cases are eliminated.

#Wildlife populations can be threatened by rabies to the point of extinction. The rare Ethiopian [[wolf]] and the African wild dog are just 2 examples.

*Wildlife populations can be threatened by rabies to the point of extinction. The rare Ethiopian [[wolf]] and the African wild dog are just 2 examples.

#In Mexico, just 5 years of a dog vaccination campaign reduced human rabies deaths from 60 per year to less than 20. Subsequently, cases have been almost eliminated.

*In Mexico, just 5 years of a dog vaccination campaign reduced human rabies deaths from 60 per year to less than 20. Subsequently, cases have been almost eliminated.

==Prevention==

==Prevention==

With the tools and [[Technology| technologies]] to control

With the tools and [[Technology| technologies]] to control rabies – principally canine rabies [[vaccination]] and human pre- and post-exposure [[Vaccine| vaccination]], there are no excuses for tolerating 100 childhood deaths a day – all

rabies – principally canine rabies [[vaccination]]

and human pre- and post-exposure

[[Vaccine| vaccination]], there are no excuses for

tolerating 100 childhood deaths a day – all

these deaths are preventable.

these deaths are preventable.

Rabies is a concern for animal welfare – fear

Rabies is a concern for animal welfare – fear of the disease results in hostile and antagonistic attitudes towards dogs and often inhumane approaches to dealing with rabid dogs within the community.

of the disease results in hostile and

antagonistic attitudes towards dogs and

often inhumane approaches to dealing with

rabid dogs within the community.

By promoting dog rabies vaccination, animal health professionals can eliminate the need for unnecessarily brutal forms of dog management.Most dogs are accessible for rabies vaccination campaigns.  

By promoting dog rabies vaccination, animal health professionals can eliminate the need for unnecessarily brutal forms of dog management.Most dogs are accessible for rabies vaccination campaigns.  

Rabies poses a major and immediate threat

Rabies poses a major and immediate threat to several of the world's most endangered wildlife populations. In the case of the Ethiopian wolf (''Canis simensis''), the entire world population comprises only 500 individuals, and key populations have been decimated by successive outbreaks of rabies.

to several of the world's most endangered

wildlife populations. In the case of the

Ethiopian wolf (''Canis simensis''), the entire

world population comprises only 500

individuals, and key populations have been

decimated by successive outbreaks of

rabies.

In parts of East Africa, the endangered [[African wild dog]] (''Lycaon pictus'') has become locally extinct as a result of rabies and is onlylikely to recover if dog rabies can be controlled.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/links/links.htm</ref>

In parts of East Africa, the endangered [[African wild dog]] (''Lycaon pictus'') has become locally extinct as a result of rabies and is onlylikely to recover if dog rabies can be controlled.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/links/links.htm</ref>

==Sources==

==Sources==