What to do if a person gets rabies
Rabies is a fatal infectious disease caused by the rabies virus and is spread primarily through bites or scratches from infected animals. In recent years, the prevention and control of rabies has remained an important global public health issue. The following is detailed information about the symptoms, prevention and treatment of rabies to help everyone better understand and deal with this disease.
1. Symptoms of rabies

The incubation period for rabies is usually 1-3 months, but can be as short as a few days or as long as years. Once onset, the disease progresses rapidly and the mortality rate is close to 100%. The following are typical symptoms of rabies:
| stage | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Early stage | Fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, wound pain or itching |
| medium term | Anxiety, irritability, hallucinations, hydrophobia, fear of wind |
| Late stage | Cramps, paralysis, coma, respiratory failure |
2. How to prevent rabies
The key to preventing rabies is to avoid being bitten or scratched by animals and to get vaccinated promptly. The following are specific measures to prevent rabies:
| measures | Description |
|---|---|
| Avoid contact with wild animals | Do not approach or feed stray dogs, cats or wild animals |
| Pet vaccinations | Regularly vaccinate domestic pets against rabies |
| Wound treatment | After being bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes |
| Seek medical attention promptly | After being bitten by a suspected infected animal, immediately go to the hospital to receive rabies vaccine and immune globulin |
3. What to do if you get rabies
Once symptoms of rabies appear, the condition is irreversible. Therefore, early intervention is crucial. Here are the countermeasures:
| steps | Operation |
|---|---|
| 1. Seek medical attention immediately | When you develop suspicious symptoms, go to the hospital immediately and inform the doctor of your history of animal bites or scratches. |
| 2. Isolate the patient | Avoid contact between patients and others to prevent saliva from spreading the virus |
| 3. Supportive treatment | The hospital may provide symptomatic treatment such as sedation and respiratory support, but it cannot cure the disease |
4. Global status of rabies
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 59,000 people die from rabies globally every year, most of them in Asia and Africa. Here are recent relevant data:
| area | annual deaths | main source of communication |
|---|---|---|
| Asia | About 35,000 people | stray dog |
| africa | About 20,000 people | Stray dogs and wild animals |
| America | less than 100 people | bats and wildlife |
5. Summary
Rabies is an extremely dangerous disease, but through scientific prevention and timely treatment, tragedies can be avoided. The public should raise awareness of rabies, especially families with pets, and be sure to vaccinate their pets regularly. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, it is important to treat the wound and seek medical attention immediately and do not leave anything to chance.
We hope that the introduction in this article can help everyone better understand rabies and take effective preventive measures to protect the health of themselves and their families.
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