What Happens If You Get Rabies

Somewhere in the green suburbs of Minnesota, on July 27, 2020, a man woke up in the middle of the night to what can only be called a Count Dracula moment. A bat was in his bedroom, screaming and biting his hand. Besides that, he was a really fuzzy, fanged brute who was also rabid, which may be one reason he attacked a harmless man in his bed. As the story goes along, we are dragged into the viral nightmare of the terrifying dimension that only a disease like rabies can create.

Rabies is no laughing matter. Pathogens are, no doubt, the best of all time. Stray dogs are the main source of this deadly disease that has spread all over the world and is taking no prisoners. It’s the worst and you will nod to us in about half an hour.

However, before we dissect the man who was attacked by a bat in his room, let’s have somewhat of a Rabies 101 class. Rabies is not an ordinary disease. Symptomatic, you have a 100% chance of dying. Indeed, you read that correctly. Even smallpox, which caused a lot of trouble in the 20th century, is nothing compared to it. Rabies is the evil-level virus with respect to its case fatality rate.

But here’s the kicker: if detected in time, which is after the infection of the animal, the rabies virus is curable. Nevertheless, don’t relax just yet. There are 150 nations and territories who have cases of rabies. Although Western Europe, Australia, and Japan could feel safer to you, make sure to remember that more than 95% of human rabies deaths occur in Asia and Africa.

Now, let’s talk numbers. In 1990, when Americans were enjoying the wild free-styled MC Hammer, there were 54,000 folks already infected with rabies. Rapid onwards to today and the death of rabies victims is around tens of thousand persons each and every year. The calculating process is problematic since some cases are unreported and others are mortality cases that are misattributed.

However, the reason why rabies is so common in some areas of the world is still a mystery. For me, it is a double problem, in a way. Understandably, dog bites are the most common transmission way of human rabies in Asia and Africa countries with 99% of cases as a result of contact with a dog suffering from rabies. For instance, the US has a very strict vaccination program, but in places like India, where street dogs are as common as the pigeons in the city square, it is a Sisyphean task to contain rabies.

One more reason why a lot of people died due to rabies in these countries is because of the difficulty of a visit to the vaccination places in the rural villages. Plus, a child under 15 are discriminately targeted, and are mostly helpless against animal attacks because they rarely understand the oncoming danger.

However, rabies is not just a problem of those who live far away. In The US the majority of all the rabies cases are discovered within wild environments mostly involving bats, of which 7 out of 10 deaths are contributed by encounters with the bat bites. And for some of those who were not so lucky to have their brief encounter with a rabid animal even in other region you could spin the whole those returned home.

Thus, what is the way of not being caught by the claws of rabies?Firstly, avoid the stray animals as rabies is incurable. In contrast, throughout the course of the illness, animals will show signs of agitation, foaming at the mouth, or abnormal behavior; nonetheless, averting disease is the best option. Keep away from the wild or stray animals and, if you are bitten, go to the doctor immediately.

However, what if you are bitten?Washing the wound with soap and water is a must and urgent doctor evaluation comes right after this stage in order to prescribe the needed vaccinations against rabies. On the pros side, the current side effects of the rabies shot are nothing like its old stomach-churning history. Modern vaccines are very effective and they cause a little discomfort, so the rabies treatment is much easier to bear.

On the other hand, when symptoms of rabies arrive, there is just a limited time. The virus making its way into the nervous system is responsible for the symptoms that follow and result in a tendency to die. From hydrophobia to hypersexuality, rabies is a terrifying virus that causes havoc in the body and mind, and there is little hope for survival.

Nevertheless, mixed with horror stories, there are sacrifices and victories. Jeanna Giese, a cancer patient who survived rabies, is a symbol of hope, because she was treated with Milwaukee Protocol that has helped her to conquer the disease which is considered as untreatable.

Let us bear in mind the grim situation of rabies and the lessons we have learnt from its victims and survivors. Whether we are bolting from an infected animal or heading straight to the doctor, awareness in its absolute form is our strongest weapon against this persistent enemy.

Hence, the next time you get bats in your room or encounter a stray dog, think of the splendid drama of rabies, its effects on lives, and their misery. Safety, information and never underestimating the danger of this dangerous disease is the key. Regardless of this, the risky outcome that might be rabies is the reason why your life could be at stake.