Rabies• Rabies is a zoonotic

disease (a disease that is transmitted to humans from animals) that is caused by a virus Rhabdoviridae family. The disease infects domestic and wild animals, and is spread to people through close contact with infected saliva via bites or scratches.

KINGDOM Undecided

PHYLUM Undecided

CLASS Undecided

ORDER Mononegavirales

FAMILY Rhabdoviridae

GENUS Lyssavirus

SPECIES Rabies virus

• The rabies virus is an RNA virus that infects nerve cells of mammals. When a healthy mammal comes into contact with saliva or other body fluids from a rabid mammal, the virus travels through the nerves into the brain.

Is it Harmful?

• The fatality of rabies is really high with or without proper medical attention.The prognosis or how long it take the man survive rabies virus depends on the site and intesity of bite injury. The rule of thumb is, the nearer to the head the more fatal.

What type of organism does it infect and what part?

• Dogs are the source of 99% of human rabies deaths. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

Signs & Symptoms Of Canine Rabies?

• Unusual restlessness• Fever• Dilatation of pupils• Watchful apprehensive look• Biting at inanimate objects• Aimless running & unprovoked

aggressiveness• Difficulty of swallowing followed by

a change in the bark or howling sounds of animals

Signs & Symptoms Of Human Rabies? • Fever• Anorexia• Nausea & vomiting• Headache• Pain or paresthesia at site

bite• Signs of nervous system

dysfunctionas hyperactivity, disorientation,hallucination, seizures & paralysis

How does rabies virus replicate itself?

• Rabies occurs in more than 150 countries and territories.

• Worldwide, more than 55 000 people die of rabies every year.

• 40% of people who are bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age.

• Dogs are the source of 99% of human rabies deaths.

Prevention• Rabies is a vaccine-preventable

disease. The most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people is by eliminating rabies in dogs through vaccination. Vaccination of animals (mostly dogs) has reduced the number of human (and animal) rabies cases in several countries, particularly in Latin America. However, recent increases in human rabies deaths in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America suggest that rabies is re-emerging as a serious public health issue.

Mode of Transmission

A bite from a rabid animal (an animal infected with the rabies virus) is the most common form of rabies transmission. Non-bite exposure and human-to-human exposure are both rare.

• Rabies Transmission From Bites Rabies transmission usually begins when infected

saliva of an animal is passed to an uninfected animal, through a bite. From the saliva's point of entry, the rabies virus travels along nerve cells to the brain. It multiplies there and moves to the salivary glands. In a rabid animal, the cycle is repeated when the animal bites a person or another animal.

• Rabies Transmission Through Non-Bite ExposureRabies transmission from non-bite exposures is

rare. Scratches, abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes contaminated with saliva or other potentially infectious material (such as brain tissue) from a rabid animal, constitute non-bite exposures. Occasionally reports of non-bite exposure are such that post-exposure prophylaxis is given.

Rabies victim displaying hydrophobia

A victim who was bitten by a rabies infected dog