Rabies is one of the most vicious animal related diseases that have caused many humans to lose their lives in the recent years. It does not only affect humans with an aggressive force but affects animals with just as much ferocity.

Fact no 1: Rabies is preventable. Just stay away from situations that might bring you face to face with an animal in a hostile condition. The only way to contract this disease is through a rabid creature’s bite or the touch of a rabid creature’s infectious fluid like saliva on an open wound.

Fact no 2: Rabies is fatal. You are advised to get treated as soon as you get bitten for rabies, if left untreated can cause death. It is considered to be a 100 percent fatal if proper medication and injections are not taken on time, this is exactly why a prompt treatment is absolutely necessary. As soon as symptoms of the disease begin to appear which include intense fever and a very tingling sensation around the place of impact.

Fact no 3: Thousands of people lose their lives to this fatal disease. Around 95% of these lives are lost in Asia and Africa alone. The only region that this disease is not present in is the Antarctica. The atmosphere of the region is not conducive to the survival of this disease and thus Antarctica is the only rabies rich continent present today.

Fact no 4: Dogs are the biggest source of this disease but it can also be transmitted through other animals like bats, foxes and racoons. Bats have emerged as one of the major causes of this disease in America. With the progression of time this disease has become stronger and has gained the innate ability to affect a huge variety of animals.

Fact no 5: According to survey conducted by World Health Organization, of all the population that is affected by rabies, 40% of them are under the age of 15. This means that this disease mostly affects people who are careless about their proximity to animals and cannot protect themselves adequately against rabid animals.

Fact no 6: The best course of treatment of rabies is first washing the wound with soap and water and then treating the body with the help of series of vaccines. People can also get vaccinated with post exposure drugs that prevent the people from contracting the disease even when they are bitten or in close contact with a rabid animal.

Fact no 7: Vaccination of dogs is the best way to prevent the spread of this disease. Since this disease is preventable and curable, vaccination of dogs can help ensure that this disease remains under check. Such vaccinations should not only be restricted to domestic dogs but should also be extended to stray dogs. Due to a dog vaccination program implemented in Bangladesh around 90% of the deaths caused by rabid animals or rabies were reduced.

Fact no 8: Vaccination of dogs against rabies is far cheaper than vaccination of people affected by this disease. Therefore it is better to implement programs that can help vaccinate large number of dogs before they cause rabies.

Fact no 9: Another way to prevent rabies is to teach the young children how to protect themselves against being bitten. Seminars and workshops should be held in educating the youth in this regard to protect them against bites in areas that do not have adequate vaccination programs for animals.

Fact no 10: One of the best strategies to control this disease involves thorough collaboration of various sectors or departments at local, regional and global scale. Without an aggressive approach this disease will grow and prosper.