Rabies
Rabies
What is rabies | rabies?
Rabies | Rabies is a serious viral disease which, if left untreated, causes encephalitis. If rabies treatment is not started in time, the disease is always fatal.
It is therefore important that you contact a doctor immediately if you are bitten by a mammal on your journey.
How can you get infected with rabies | rabies?
Rabies is transmitted via bites, scratches or saliva from mammals that have rabies | rabies. Rabies occurs among others in:
dogs
bat
cats
monkeys
Rabies virus is transmitted via saliva from the infected animal. In rare cases, rabies can also be transmitted by scratching or spitting in the eye or on open and unprotected wounds.
How can rabies | Can rabies be prevented?
As with other infectious diseases, the most effective prevention of rabies is to avoid exposure and preventive vaccination.
You can reduce the risk of infection with rabies by:
avoid contact with all mammals – especially dogs, monkeys, cats and bats
handle and do not feed animals
take special care of dogs during outdoor activities such as running and cycling
children are at particular risk of rabies, make sure to keep an eye on the children and access to animals, including puppies and kittens
visits to caves with bats must proceed with caution
In which parts of the world is rabies | canine rabies and where is the risk of infection greatest?
Rabies can be found in large parts of the world.
There is the greatest risk of rabies in countries in Asia and Africa. In Denmark, there is rabies among bats.
In recent years, there have been no cases of rabies in Denmark, but since the disease is widespread throughout the world, Danish travelers are still at risk of becoming infected when they visit risk areas. In Norway there have been deaths due to rabies < 10 years, due to infection after travel to the Philippines. Currently, there has been a focus on avoiding rabies among pets from Eastern Europe.
It is therefore always important to check whether you should get the rabies vaccine before you set off on your trip. Particular attention must be paid if traveling in remote areas, with limited access to qualified medical treatment.
What symptoms can be seen with rabies | rabies?
Symptoms of Rabies most often begin two to eight weeks after one has been infected.
Classic symptoms of Rabies | rabies can be:
headache
fever
numbness, tingling or pain around the bite site
muscle cramps and muscle weakness
cramps in the swallowing muscles
confusion and restlessness
paralysis in the extremities as well as the breathing muscles
coma
If you get symptoms of rabies that affect the brain (nervous system), the disease is always 100 % fatal, regardless of whether treatment is started. That is why it is important to see a doctor urgently if exposure / infection is suspected, this also applies even if you have been vaccinated.
How is rabies treated | rabies?
There is no specific treatment for rabies once symptoms involving the central nervous system have developed. Early treatment, before symptoms develop, is therefore crucially important.
It is usually not possible to know whether an animal is infected with rabies. If you or your child has been exposed, treatment must be started as soon as possible and ideally within 24 hours.
There is a difference in the treatment that is recommended, depending on whether you are vaccinated or not. Vaccinated persons must therefore also seek medical help, for follow-up and further vaccination.
Treatment against rabies infection will be vaccination and often immunoglobulins, always preceded by thorough cleaning of the wound. See a doctor urgently for guidance and always make sure you have travel insurance that you can contact.
How do I get vaccinated against rabies | rabies?
2 doses 7 days apart provide lifelong basic coverage.
The vaccine can be used for all age groups.
People with occupational risk should have more frequent vaccinations.
Source: SS
English (UK) 
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