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Rabies Outbreak in South Africa
Context:
South Africa is witnessing its first recorded rabies outbreak in marine mammals, with health authorities planning to initiate a trial vaccination for Cape fur seals.
More on news:
- Cape fur seals exhibiting excessive aggression and unusual behaviours have been observed. This behaviour is atypical and linked to the presence of rabies.
- Transmission Source: Rabies in seals is believed to have originated from other wildlife populations, not from domestic dogs.
Overview of Rabies Disease:
- Rabies is caused by the RABV virus and is primarily transmitted through bites from infected animals, such as bats in the U.S. and dogs in Asia and Africa.
- It is a Zoonotic Viral disease.
- Rabies manifests in two clinical forms: 1) Furious rabies: characterised by hyperactivity and hallucinations. 2) Paralytic rabies: characterised by paralysis and coma.
- The disease is preventable If vaccinated promptly after exposure; however, once symptoms appear, rabies is fatal.
- Infection Process: The virus enters through an open wound, travels slowly along nerves to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), causing neurological symptoms, leading to coma and death.
Phases of Disease:
- Incubation: Virus remains asymptomatic for days to weeks. Early treatment can prevent the disease.
- Prodromal Phase: Symptoms include flu-like signs, bite wound discomfort, and nerve damage. Lasts 2 to 10 days with no effective treatment at this stage.
- Acute Neurologic Phase: Virus damages the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include agitation, aggression, seizures (furious rabies), or weakness and paralysis (paralytic rabies). This phase can last from a few days to a month.
- Coma: Final stage leading to coma and eventually death.
⇒ Rabies is estimated to cause about 59,000 human deaths annually across over 150 countries, with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia.
⇒ The disease disproportionately affects rural poor populations and children under 15 years of age.
⇒ The majority of human rabies cases are acquired from dog bites, making it crucial to vaccinate dogs and educate people on avoiding bites and seeking prompt treatment.