Changes

'''Rabies''' is a distinctly horrifying [[Disease|disease]] which kills more than 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 are also more likely to be bitten in high-risk sites on the body, such as the head and neck.

'''Rabies''' (once commonly referred to as ''Hydrophobia'') is a distinctly horrifying [[disease]] which kills more than 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]]s, and are also more likely to be bitten in high-risk sites on the body, such as the head and neck.

The psychological impact of rabies can be enormous as the bite of a rabid dog can lead to months of [[anxiety]] while victims are unsure as to whether rabies may develop. This is particularly true for poor people living in remote and rural areas of Africa and Asia where availability of appropriate post-exposure [[Vaccine| vaccines]] and [[immunoglobulin]] is limited. The bite of rabid animals often causes horrific injuries even if rabies itself can be prevented by effective post-exposure [[prophylaxis]].<ref>http://www.rabiescontrol.org</ref>

The psychological impact of rabies can be enormous as the bite of a rabid dog can lead to months of [[anxiety]] while victims are unsure as to whether rabies may develop. This is particularly true for poor people living in remote and rural areas of Africa and Asia where availability of appropriate post-exposure [[vaccine]]s and [[immunoglobulin]] is limited. The bite of rabid animals often causes horrific injuries even if rabies itself can be prevented by effective post-exposure [[prophylaxis]].<ref>http://www.rabiescontrol.org</ref>

==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 bullet-shaped virus (from the genus ''Lyssavirus'') which attacks the Central Nervous System.

*Rabies is known to drive the infected violently insane. Thus it was one of the most feared ailments for early man.

*Many rabies cases are due to bites from domestic dogs, but all mammals can suffer from rabies and all can potentially transmit the virus to humans.

*Many rabies cases 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.

*Once the symptoms of rabies develop, it is almost always 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.

==Prevention==

==Prevention==

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

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

these deaths are preventable.

these deaths are preventable.

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.

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.

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>https://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/links/links.htm</ref>

==Sources==

==Sources==