Rabies is highly fatal infectious viral disease of dogs, cat, sheep, wild carnivores e.g Foxed, Wolves coyotes, Jackals, while bats act as reservoirs, and may be contacted by man and warm-blooded animals through the bite of an infected animal.
When a rabid dog or other rabid animsl bited a person or other animal, thr virus usually present in the saliva of a rabid animal will produce symptoms of rabies in the bitten animal or person within 2-3 days. If adequate treatment are not taken.
IDENTIFICATION OF RABID ANIMAL
In the furious form; the animal will be very furious charging and biting every object that come it way. E.g humans, tree and other animals.
Roaming aimlessly about with protuding tougue accompained with drooling saliva.
Staggering gait due to paralysis of the leg.
The animal remains quiet and may not respond to calls
Affected animal usually refuse to eat and drink water.
DEALING WITH A SUSPECTED CASEa
INITAL ACTION: The decision as to whether or not suspicion of rabies exist is one which the Vet. Surgeon must make, having taken into account the case history and the clinical signs seen.
Suspicion case of rabies should be reported to either Veterinary officer or Local Authority (i.e Diseases of Animals Inspector). It is therefore advisable to have the telephone numbers of Divisional Veterinary Officer of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources.
The owner or person in charge of the suspected animal should be advised by the Vet. That rabies is suspected, and steps must be taken to detain and isolate the animal and that it will be necessary for an official enquiry ( by a Ministry Veterinary Officer) to be carried out. In advising the owner of the suspicion of rabies, a vet. Should use his/her discretion regarding the amount of information to be given, bearing in mind the need to avoid creating over-reaction. Arrangements must be made to detain and isolate the suspected animal in some escape-proof accommodation in order to prevent any further contact with other animals or humans. On no account must a suspected animal be moved away from the house or practice premises on which it has been examined until such a time as the Ministry Veterinary Officer has completed his/her enquiry.
Where the suspected animal is encountered in the consulting room, it should, ideally be confined in a suitable kennel or crate inside a locked room; at least it should be secured by a strong chain and dept separate from all other animals.
Where the suspected animal is encountered at a house call, detention and isolation may be move difficult to achieve but the same principle applies in that the animal must be detained in some escape - proof accommodation. Each vet. Should have an efficient " dog-catcher" and kept at the practice premises and readily available at all times.
Having satisfactorily detained and isolated the suspect animal, the Vet. And any other person having handle it should carry out a through personal disinfection. Hands should be well washed with soap and hot water, or a detergnet and hot water.
Additionally, if clothing or overalls have become contaminated with discharges from the suspected animal, these should be changed before proceeding to exmaine any other animal; all such clothing should be thoroughly sterilised before use, as should all equipment which has been used on the animal.
BITING OR SCRATCHING INCIDENTSb
If anyone is bitten or scratched by the suspected animal immediate local treatment is of paramount importance. Washing and flushing of the wound with soap or detergent and water, then by flushing with water alone is imperative, followed by the application of either 40-70% alcohol, tincture of aqueous solutions of iodine or 0.1% quarternanium ammonium compounds.
Cetrimide BP is the best known quarternary compound in general use and is available under the trade names of Savlon and Cetavlon.
CONTACT ANIMALS: The names and addresses of clients along with descriptions of their animals which may have come into direct contact with the suspect animal ( in the waiting room) should be carefully recorded before they are allowed to leave the practice premises. Where an animal has been bitten or scratched by the suspected or has come into contact with its saliva then this animal should, whatever possible, be detained at the practice premises to await the outcome of the Ministry's Veterinary Staff will asses the need for future action in respect of exposed animals according to the nature and degree of contact and will refer all human contact to the Medical Officer of Environmental Health should the suspected animal die from rabies, then all close contact, including those animal which might have been bitten by the dead animal prior to death, will be liable to be destroyed. Other animals which have been in remote contact would be subjected to restriction for a period of six months.
Prevention and Control of Rabies
Vaccinate your dog(s) annually.
Report promptly any case of a dog or other animal bite to a Vet. Or Medical doctor.
All Vet. And Animal handlers should unfailing receive pre-exposure shot anti -rabies vaccination regularly.
Stay away from bats.
Ref: a,b-The Henston Veterinary Vade Mecum.
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