Rabies

22.5 Rabies Rabies is covered in Chapter 17. See page 251-253.

Treatment  If an animal or person has been exposed to rabies, the most urgent and important thing to do is to wash the contaminated area thoroughly with soap and water. The rabies virus dies easily in the presence of soap.

 The next most urgent thing to do for a person exposed to rabies is to receive a series of anti-rabies injections. These are available in many countries from the Ministry of Health.

Prevention

 In most countries, dogs are the most common source of rabies transmission. If this is the case where you are working and there is a problem of rabies, a vaccination campaign for dogs should be conducted. Also, loose and wild dogs should be rounded up and impounded, or euthanized. These are the two most effective strategies for controlling rabies in most countries.