Rabies is an infectious disease caused by the rabies virus and can be transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Rabies suspect animal bites are a serious public health concern. This article aims to discuss how to treat and prevent rabies suspect animal bites, by providing relevant and up-to-date information.
Rabies is a disease that has a high mortality rate in humans and animals. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and can cause encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. In the early stages, human rabies symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, but then progress to more severe symptoms, such as seizures, agitation and respiratory distress. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat and prevent bites from animals suspected of rabies.
Treating Rabies Suspect Animal Bites
If a person is bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, the following steps can be taken:
- Clean the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes.
- Seek professional medical care immediately.
- Initial vaccination immediately after the bite, using rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) serum if required. This procedure helps to slow the spread of the virus in the body and prevent the progression of the disease.
- Perform follow-up care according to the doctor's recommendations, including an appropriate vaccination schedule to ensure optimal protection.
Prevention of Rabies Suspect Animal Bites
Prevention is the best way to address the problem of rabies. Some steps that can be taken to prevent rabies suspect animal bites are as follows:
- Avoid direct contact with wild or unknown animals.
- Vaccinate pets regularly. Rabies vaccines given to pets are an effective way to prevent rabies virus transmission to humans.
- Avoiding animals that appear sick, aggressive, or unusual in their behavior.
- Reporting animal bites to local health authorities and getting appropriate medical treatment.
Reference
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2018). Guidelines for Rabies Prevention and Control.
Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health. (2020). Rabies Disease Situation in Indonesia
Veterinary Research Center. (2021). Guidelines for Handling Rabies Suspect Animal Bite Cases.
World Health Organization. (2018). Rabies Fact Sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Rabies. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html
Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2022). Technical Guidelines for Rabies Prevention and Control.
Image: Illustration - File:Rabies virus structure.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
