Humans have been battling viruses long before our species evolved into its current form. For some viral diseases, vaccines and antiviral drugs have allowed us to prevent the widespread spread of infections and have helped sick people to recover.
Is this the deadliest virus?: “It destroys the brain, it’s a very serious disease”
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Unfortunately there are viruses for which there is no treatment, once a person has been infected and often death is imminent. One such case is the Lyssavirus that causes rabies, a fatal encephalitic disease that causes approximately 59,000 human deaths annually. The prototype species, rabies lyssavirus, is the most widespread of all lyssaviruses and poses the greatest threat to public health.
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Although rabies vaccines for pets, which were introduced in the 1920s, have helped make the disease extremely rare in the developed world, the condition remains a serious problem.
Infection with this virus develops after a bite or scratch from an infected animal. This can lead to brain and nerve damage. Once symptoms begin to appear, death almost always follows, according to the US Public Health Service.
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The only effective remedy against rabies is prevention through childhood vaccination.
„It destroys the brain, it is a very serious disease. We have a rabies vaccine and we have antibodies that work against rabies, so if someone is bitten by a rabid animal, we can treat that person. However, if you don’t get treatment, there is a 100% chance of dyingi”, say the US Public Health Service specialists.
What are the symptoms of Lyssavirus
At first, the symptoms of Lyssavirus infection are similar to those of the flu. These include headache, fever and fatigue. The disease then progresses rapidly and produces paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death within two weeks at most.
Symptoms can appear at any time in the first days, or several years after contact with the virus.
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How is Lyssavirus treated?
The devastating consequences of Lyssavirus infection can be prevented by prompt and thorough wound cleaning and vaccination. Even if you have had the rabies vaccine, if you are bitten or scratched by an infected animal you should:
- wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes
- after washing apply an antiseptic with antiviral action, such as betadine, tincture of iodine, or alcohol.
- seek medical attention as soon as possible to care for the wound and assess whether you are at risk of infection.
If you have been bitten on the head or neck, you will need to get vaccinated within 48 hours. There is no treatment available for Lyssavirus once symptoms have started.
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