Not once, not twice, you may have heard of the fatal disease Rabies, commonly known as ‘kichaa cha mbwa‘. When you came across this word, you probably decided to pass it as it is commonly believed that it only affects dogs. The truth of the matter is that this disease also affects humans.
Rabies spread to humans
Rabies is one of the zoonotic diseases that is shared by both animals and humans. Rabies disease is usually spread when one gets bitten by a rabid dog and fails to take immediate action. Other than its transmission through bites, rabies is also transmitted through saliva. If a rabid dog spits saliva on an open wound on your skin, you can easily contract the disease.
Signs and symptoms
In order to establish if a person is infected with rabies after a bite from a dog, look out for the following symptoms;
- irritability or aggressiveness.
- excessive movements or agitation.
- confusion, bizarre or strange thoughts, or hallucinations.
- muscle spasms and unusual postures.
- seizures (convulsions)
- weakness or paralysis (when a person cannot move some part of the body)
100% preventable
Despite its symptoms being very fatal, rabies is 100% preventable. It can be prevented through vaccinations. Studies show that when 70% of dogs are vaccinated in an area, there are zero chances of residents of the area contracting rabies.
Unlike the out dated methods like culling believed to eliminate rabies, rabies vaccinations on dogs eradicates rabies, ensuring good health of the animals and the entire community.
Every member of the community should ensure that their furry friend is vaccinated against rabies. It is actually much cheaper than treating a rabies infection
