Rabies :: essays research papers

Rabies     What is Rabies? Who coheres Rabies? Rabies is a viral disease of humansand early(a) mammals. It is most common in carnivores. The word rabies comes fromthe word "hydrophobia", fear of water. Rabies is a potentially deadly disease.     There are more things you can do to prevent yourself from meetingrabies. The most important thing to do, is to be certain your pets have updatedvaccinations. Your pets can first get their vaccinations when they are 3months old. After that booster vaccinations must be given every one to threeyears according to your state and city laws. It also depends on the display case ofvaccination.     Most people associate rabies with dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks, wolves,etc. The most common animals to have rabies are dogs, cats, and raccoons.Rabies cases in cats have appearnumbered all different domestic animals every yearsince 1988. There was fifty-three percents increase in cat rabies between 1991-1992. Most of the cases with cats have been unvaccinated strays.     Even if your pets do not go outside, they should still be vaccinated.You cannot tell if you pet will accidentally get out or an infected animal willget in. Avoid close contact with any irrational animal. Never feed, handle, pet, ortake any wild animals in. Rabid animals will usually act in an abnormal way,have a foamy saliva around the mouth, and show a loss of hair or fur. If theanimal is nocturnal, it may be out during the day. Rabid animals are usuallyvery outgoing and aggressive.     To keep wildlife away from your home avoid leaving pet food outside, andkeep the lids on put away cans secure, or store them inside a garage or shed. Youcan prevent wildlife from your entering you home by sealing holes and screeningchimneys. If a wild animal does get in, do not touch it. Call your localanimal-control officer or humane society and let them remove it.&nbs p    The rabies virus can be transmitted in three different ways. These arethrough saliva, the bite of an infected animal, and by contact through the mucusmembranes, or breaks in the skin.     Symptoms develop in ten to fifty days after exposure to this virus.Symptoms in humans usually begin with depression, restlessness, fatigue, and afever. This is followed by a period of excitability, excessive salivation, andconvulsions, especially in throat spasms. The victim is unable to drinkalthough he or she is extremely thirsty. Death from paralysis and suffocationfollows within ten days. Once the symptoms of rabies have appeared, there is nopossible treatment for the disease.