What to do in the event of an animal bite to prevent rabies

It is held every year on September 28 World Rabies Day in memory of the scientist’s death Louis Pasteurwho developed the first vaccine against it disease.

Anger is a viral zoonoses which can affect all mammals, whether domestic or wild. “In 99% of cases, transmission to humans occurs from an infected animal. The frequent victims are children from 5 to 14 years old” said the World Health Organization (WHO).

“It’s still a threat it causes 1 person dies every 9 minutes in the world. Working with communities, raising awareness of the disease, its impact and how it can be prevented, providing tools such as vaccines quality, which prevents its transmission, is a basic public-private obligation to take care of public health,” said the Healthy World Foundation.

“The preventive vaccination of pets that are in contact with humans is essential for disease prevention. Today, this is the most effective strategy to avoid this zoonosis in humans. It is the annual vaccination, lifelong, which achieves the protection of these animals and prevent them from becoming a source of infection“, he declared Rocio Villaroelveterinarian at the Mundo Sano Foundation.

Rabies is a viral zoonosis that can infect any mammal and is spread to humans and animals through ” spitwith whom you come into contact bites, scratches or by direct contact with mucous membranes (eyes, mouth or open wounds). Once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is fatal in virtually all cases,” WHO explained.

Although it is present on all continents and affects more than 150 countriesonly in 2021 was it included in the new roadmap for 2030 World Health Organizationdue to its public health importance due to its high lethality. Most human cases (approximately 80%) occur in rural areas.

“In the world, this disease is responsible for the surroundings.” 60,000 human deaths per year. While in America it succeeded reduce drastically the incidence of human rabies transmitted by dogs by 98%, in recent years rabies transmitted to humans wild animals has acquired greater significance because it is bat the main broadcaster,” indicated from Mundo Sano.

“In case of any type of injury (bite, scratch) the first thing to do is wash with plenty of soap and water and participate quickly health center nearest to receive specific treatment immediately. It is important to note that if you do not get adequate timely attentionthe outcome of the disease is fatal,” they explained from the same basis.

And they delivered any suspected case rabies must be reported National Health Surveillance System. “For this, it is recommended that the relevant municipal authority can find the aggressor animal so that they can carry out professional observation for a period of 10 days, which is in charge of the epidemiology department, the zoological center of the village or the veterinarian,” they emphasized.

There are two types of disease cycle. “On the one hand, urbanwhich has domestic animals as its main reservoir, e.g dog and cat, but also to insectivorous bat. On the other hand, there is rural cycle which has as a reservoir wild mammals and a blood-sucking bat commonly known as a vampire,” Mundo Sano explained.

If they are found bats falling or wandering during the dayone must do not touch them. “It is important to notify the nearest municipality or zoonosis center so that they can indicate what to do. In the event that a bat gets to our house, we should not be afraid, but rather cover it with a containerpreferably a hard one, and slide the cardboard under it, always do not touch it or allow the animal to come into contact with it, so that you can transport it to the zoonosis center,” they said in Mundo Sano.

And they added that if the animal has contact with our dog or cat“You must immediately go to zoonosis or veterinary center closest to execution vaccination booster with our pets. If we all contribute, together we can control rabies,” said the Mundo Sano Foundation, which implemented vaccinations and deworming operations dogs and cats together with the zoonoses teams of several municipalities in the province of Buenos Aires and in the interior of the country.

“This campaign is part of a collaborative work which we have been doing for 5 years together with Biogenesis Bagó. Since the beginning of the year, we have already held 15 public events, both urban and rural, where people were vaccinated and dewormed. more than 4000 dogs and cats“, the foundation concluded.

“We are committed to rabies prevention because we understand the impact that animal health care has on public health and the environment.” the well-being of communities. For this reason, we collaborate with Mundo Sano on awareness campaigns and accompany veterinary professionals in rabies prevention strategies through vaccination,” said Leandro Martínez, veterinarian of a biotechnology company specializing in the development of products for animal health and the environment.