History of Rabies. Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.
Rabies is one of the oldest known diseases in history with cases dating back to 4000 years ago. Rabies has been known since around 2000 BC. The first written record of rabies is in the Mesopotamian Codex of Eshnunna ( c. 1930 BC), which dictates that the owner of a dog showing symptoms of rabies should take preventive measures against bites.
Rabies appears to have originated in the Old World, the first epizootic in the New World occurring in Boston in 1768. In 1804, Georg Gottfried Zinke first transmitted rabies from a rabid dog to a normal one, and from dog to a rabbit and a hen, by injection of saliva. This proved that the disease was infectious. The first written record of rabies causing death in dogs and humans is found in the Mosaic Esmuna Code of Babylon in 2300 B.C. where Babylonians had to pay a fine if their dog transmitted rabies to another person.
Has any human survived rabies? Jeanna Geise was only 15 years old when she became the world’s first known survivor of Rabies without receiving any vaccination. Her miraculous survival has not only challenged a time-honored scientific fact, but has also brought about a new method of Rabies treatment, known as the Milwaukee Protocol.
How was rabies treated in the 1800s? Until Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux developed a vaccine in the mid-1880s, bite marks from rabid or suspected rabid animals often were treated by cutting away the flesh in and around the infected area and then cauterizing the wound with “lunar caustic” (fused silver nitrate).
Development of rabies vaccine. Virtually all infections with rabies resulted in death until two French scientists, Louis Pasteur and Émile Roux, developed the first rabies vaccination in 1885. Nine-year-old Joseph Meister (1876–1940), who had been mauled by a rabid dog, was the first human to receive this vaccine.
There are three clinical phases of the disease:
- Prodromal phase – the onset of clinical rabies in man includes 2-4 days of prodromal.
- Excitation phase – the excitation phase begins gradually and may persist to death.
- Paralytic phase – hydrophobia, if present, disappears and swallowing becomes possible.
Can you get rabies if not bitten? People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, but rare, for people to get rabies from non-bite exposures, which can include scratches, abrasions, or open wounds that are exposed to saliva or other potentially infectious material from a rabid animal.
Symptoms of rabies. The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to the flu, including weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for days. Symptoms then progress to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation.
People may experience: Pain areas: in the muscles. Whole body: dizziness, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, or malaise. Psychological: delirium, fear, or hallucination. Muscular: muscle spasms or paralysis with weak muscles. Sensory: pins and needles or sensitivity to light.?Behavioural: aggression or irritability. Gastrointestinal: nausea or vomiting. Also common: anxiety, brain death, coma, difficulty swallowing, dilated pupils, drooling, headache, hypersalivation, mental confusion, seizure, or stiff neck
How do you know a dog has rabies? Physical signs of rabies in dogs to watch for include fever, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, staggering, seizures, and even paralysis. As the virus progresses, your dog may act as though they are overstimulated, meaning lights, movement, and sound may appear to have a negative effect.
Prevention
- Vaccinate your pets.
- Keep your pets confined.
- Protect small pets from predators.
- Report stray animals to local authorities.
- Don’t approach wild animals.
- Keep bats out of your home.
- Consider the rabies vaccine if you’re traveling or often around animals that may have rabies.
Vaccination: In order for the post-exposure vaccine to work, it must be administered before the onset of symptoms. If not, an infected person is expected to live only seven days after the appearance of symptoms.
Who is at most risk of rabies? Children are often at greatest risk from rabies. They are more likely to be bitten by dogs, and are also more likely to be severely exposed through multiple bites in high-risk sites on the body. Severe exposures make it more difficult to prevent rabies unless access to good medical care is immediately available.
Why can’t we cure rabies? Rabies infects the central nervous system (CNS), and — if left untreated — it can be fatal if it reaches the brain. Once it reaches the brain, there’s currently no treatment available. Researchers are still trying to find ways to treat rabies once it reaches the brain.
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