There's an ache in my bones to talk about diseases. And since I'm a child with no sense of delayed satisfaction. I'm talking about my favorite first.
Rabies is of rhabdoviridae family and lyssavirus genus. Theres a number of species that fall under this category, all of which can cause fatal human rabies. It can be found naturally world wide! (Except in Antarctica. But imagine a rabid polar bear). It's among the oldest diseases we still have around. Rubbing membranes with old heads like tuberculosis and leprosy. While not exclusively the oldest, historically its the scariest. Contributing to myths like vampires turning into bats and being warded off by garlic.
The largest carrier of rabies in the United states is bats and raccons, this is because they're able to survive a good while after infection. In the rest of the world dogs are the main carriers. It's because if their tendency to interact with wildlife and urban populations.
We've been trying to reduce the density of rabies with an oral vaccine. It's pretty much a regular pre-emptive rabies vaccine, except it's effective orally. To actually distribute this to the populations of animals that need it, we put it in bait and spread it around their habit. Think about how one might put a dog's pill inside some lunch meat, or cheese. Same general concept, except we're throwing handfuls into places where we suspect rabid beasts the live.
Rabies is nearly 100% fatal to all mammals who start showing symptoms. However if you treat it before then your odds of survival improve drastically. The general care for it is in 3 parts.
1, wound care. Rabies often comes with a wound of some kind, a bite or scratch being most common. The wound must be rinsed, disinfected, and bandaged. This prevents the wound getting infected further. While this may prevent you from developing rabies, it's still important to seek medical attention.
2, HRIG. Human rabies immune golbulin. This is a large does of antibodies that are great at fighting off rabies. It's important that this is injected in a different location than the first vaccine dose. That way they don't interfere with each other. This step is optional if you've been treated for rabies before or if you have previously be vaccinated for it. However this step will be replaced with a lecture to stop getting rabies.
3, PEP. You will require 4 vaccinations, on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 (and 28 if you have an immune disorder) while ingredients may differ between manufacturers, the idea is largely the same. It will present your immune system with a non active rabies virus. And then your immune system will (hopefully) start producing its own rabies antibodies. Helping fight off the virus in you body alongside the HRIG in step 2.if you've already been treated for rabies before, or been vaccinated before you'll instead get two vaccinations for it, on days 0 and 3.
The symptoms of rabies tend be universal between species. With excess saliva production and build up, abnormally aggressive behavior, increased thirst, anxiety and confusion, and hydrophobia. It's actually quite common for populations of animals to become completely isolated in one area, if their only means of egress is near or over water.
Once symptoms start to show there's not much that can really be done. It's now in the brain, and has no plans on leaving. Unless... the Milwaukee protocol.
The Milwaukee protocol is a highly experimental, and largely ineffective method of treatment for patients already displaying symptoms of rabies. It's been used 38 times worldwide and once in Brazil (where it was modified slightly and called the recife protocol, its important to differentiate). In the 39 known use cases, 11 people survived. The data might be incomplete, as some instances may not published. Most people who survived the protocol, suffered long lasting neurological problems. As rabies entered the brain, and caused severe inflation and excess fluid build up. Most major health authorities like the WHO and the CDC do not recommend the Milwaukee protocol. It's because it deterred a large number of researchers away from developing a better treatment for advanced rabies.
At the moment, there's no real better treatment for those who have shown symptoms of rabies. However several research teams are doing incredible work attempting to make something for treating rabies at such an advanced stage. With signs of promise.
The incubation period can vary wildly. With some cases being on the order days, and some being a year or more. That's because it does NOT travel through your blood stream, instead taking the less worn path of the nervous system. Which is significantly slower in speed, but more direct to the brain.
While it's a very serious disease, it's not common for humans to be infected with it. With roughly 70,000 people dying each year from rabies around the world. With the efforts of the WHO and medical workers around the world, this number is projected to continue to decline. To raise awareness and understanding of rabies. The CDC has set aside September 28th as world rabies day. (Please celebrate it by not getting rabies).
It's important to get all animal based wounds checked out ASAP. And get your animals vaccinated!
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