SPREADING THE TRUTH ABOUT RABIES

Science has shown that rabies can be prevented through vaccination of dogs by a responsible and loving pet owner.

In April 2021, the World Health Organisation’s rabies bulletin reported two fatal cases of rabies in South Africa. In September, another victim died of rabies, reported by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Tragically, these three cases were young boys, two, seven and nine years old, who’d been bitten by dogs infected with rabies virus.

Every nine to ten minutes somebody dies of rabies worldwide. Between 24,000 and 70,000 human deaths are recorded in Africa alone. In 2020, a total of seven cases of rabies were confirmed by laboratories in South Africa, and each year we see new cases, often affecting children. Children are particularly at risk due to their close contact with dogs and are more likely to suffer multiple bites, which impose a higher risk of contracting rabies.

“The heartbreak with rabies is that it’s fatal for humans and animals once symptoms appear, and yet it’s completely preventable with a vaccine,” says Tarryn Dent, Business Unit Manager for Companion Animals at Zoetis South Africa, a global animal health company.

Dent is a passionate advocate for the prevention of rabies through vaccinations. “If anyone suspects that their pet has been exposed to rabies, bitten by a stray aggressive dog and they have no rabies vaccination history, a vet can euthanise on the spot and test brain samples to confirm for rabies later. It’s an extremely serious, reportable disease and veterinarians won’t take a chance,” says Dent.

UNDERSTANDING THE DANGERS OF RABIES

Rabies is a serious viral illness that can affect any warm-blooded animal, and it is also a zoonotic disease (which means that people can become infected by an infected animal). In South Africa, rabies is an endemic disease, which means many species of animals are carriers, from honey badgers, meerkats and mongooses to both feral and domestic cats and dogs. With so many roaming animals in urban centres, the risk is even higher.

The rabies virus is present in high concentrations in the saliva of affected animals. The virus is transmitted in saliva from close contact with an infected animal. Bites, scratches or even licks on broken skin and mucous membranes can transmit the virus.

Once an animal or human is bitten by a rabid animal, it replicates in the muscle before travelling up the nerves to the spine and brain, causing inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). The incubation period is quite variable, but the average time is three to six weeks. Early symptoms in pets include a fever, licking or chewing at the site of a bite, dilated pupils, changes in behaviour, anxiety, and seeking solitude. The second stage includes avoiding light, snapping at imaginary things, lack of co-ordination and restlessness. The final stage, which usually lasts two to four days, is known as the “furious” stage, in which infected animals are unable to swallow, will drool, have a “dropped” jaw and their voice changes. Dramatic behavioural alterations, such as wild animals losing their fear of humans, may be an indication of infection.

In humans, the early symptoms of rabies are non-specific and may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, and confusion, followed by rapid progression of nervous signs, sleepiness or agitation.

“The challenge is that the list of symptoms is a long one, but by the time they appear, treatment is no longer possible. By that stage, rabies is fatal to both humans and animals, and animals need to be quarantined and euthanised,” says Dent.

FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE

“Our first line of defence should therefore be vaccination. We cannot control wild animals or feral domesticated animals, but we can protect our pets – and we can protect ourselves and our children if our pets are protected,” says Dent.

Rabies vaccination of domestic dogs and cats is mandatory by law in South Africa, but the onus is on pet owners to ensure that their pets are vaccinated on schedule. “Pets that contract rabies are usually bitten by a wild animal that has come into a yard, so simply keeping pets in urban gardens isn’t enough to prevent infection,” she continues.

“However, we can achieve zero rabies deaths through vaccinations, bite prevention education and awareness of rabies,” says Dent. “Tragically, most human deaths are the result of untreated bites. Timely treatment, including wound cleaning, vaccines and occasionally rabies immunoglobulin, are required for people exposed to rabies. Unfortunately, even though the best post-exposure treatment systems are available, many people don’t seek treatment, either because they’re not aware of what’s available, or because they’re too far away from support. The administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is urgent and must be done as soon as possible after a bite, lick or scratch.”

#WORLDRABIESDAY

This year’s 15th annual #WorldRabiesDay was on the 28th of September, and it focussed on eradicating the many fears and myths surrounding this disease and replacing them with concrete facts. Only through spreading the truth and helping each other to understand the reality of the issue can we overcome it. Besides urging people in all communities to vaccinate their pets, the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) is joined by the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, Rural Development (DALRRD), the National Department of Health (DoH), the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the National Animal Health Forum (NAHF) and the Rabies Advisory Group (RAG) to replace fear with facts.

Just as we’ve seen with the current COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a lot of misinformation, “fake news” and superstitions surrounding the vaccination and ways of dealing with the virus. The same can be said of many other diseases and viruses such as rabies. It was once said that “almost all fear is fear of the unknown. Therefore, what’s the remedy? To learn to understand the things you fear”. So, fear creates false and very often dangerous ideas which can only be cured by learning and sharing proven and scientific facts.

Let’s look at some of the most common and misleading beliefs or myths which surround this countrywide danger which are based on fear, as opposed to the truths which are proven by many years of scientific studies. Many people believe and have spread the misconception that rabies isn’t preventable, like it’s in the animal from birth or “for life” – this is not true.

JUST THE FACTS!

Science has shown that it can be prevented through vaccination of animals by any responsible and loving pet owner and that if just 70% of dogs in high-risk areas are vaccinated, this can completely eliminate canine rabies in that area.

Another false belief is that rabies cannot be prevented in humans once bitten, that there’s no medical treatment. This is not true. This also leads some people to trust in traditional medicines rather than scientifically tested and proven solutions. There certainly is treatment for rabies in humans, provided it’s given correctly and immediately (or as soon as possible) after being transmitted. The post-exposure prophylaxis treatment is 100% effective if it’s given early enough and correctly. If you’re bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal, you should wash the wound well with soap and running water for 15 minutes. Then seek immediate treatment at your nearest medical facility, where a series of vaccinations will be given and, if required, rabies antibodies will be administered.

People also have the incorrect idea that rabies is only ever transmitted by dog bites. This too is untrue. Though in our communities it’s most commonly passed on by infected dogs, it can be transferred to a human from the bite, scratch or lick of any infected mammal, the second most common being cats.

Animals in general are not a risk, but we can identify the tell-tale signs in a rabies-infected animal. It’s very important to stay away from animals with these symptoms, and to report the animal immediately to your vet, Animal Health Technician or to the police.

To protect your animals, family, and community you must vaccinate your dogs and cats. The first rabies vaccine is given at 12 weeks (3 months) of age, followed by a booster vaccination between one to 12 months later. Thereafter, a booster every three years. In high-risk areas, annual vaccination is strongly recommended. However, it’s never too late for your pet to receive their first vaccination, followed by the booster protocol.

South Africa is committed to the global “Zero by 30” goal – for zero human deaths due to dog mediated rabies by 2030. This can be achieved through adequate vaccination of dog (and cat) populations, as well as provision of treatment to humans that have been exposed to rabid animals.

**The World Rabies Day South African campaign is proudly brought to you by the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) and V-Tech.