World Rabies Day: What to do when a dog bites you

Transmitted by Rabid animals, data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that the viral disease kills nearly 60,000 people globally each year.

In Kenya, the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) estimates that nearly 2000 humans die from the disease, with 40% being children under 15.

"The infected dogs cause more than 99% of rabies in humans,” KSPCA notes.

As a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), rabies mostly affects underserved communities, mainly in Africa and Asia.

“Every nine minutes, rabies claims a victim, but death is 100% preventable. When we work together, eliminating this disease for good relies on all of us acting now!” WHO states.

What to do when a dog or rabid animal bites you

According to KSPCA, some of the symptoms of rabies are pain in the bitten area, fever, headache, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, sore throat and depression.

Additionally, KSPCA advises on what to do if a rabid or unknown animal bites. It advises one to make the bite or wound bleed as much as possible, wash the wound with clean water and soap or disinfectant to reduce the rabies substantially. It also cautions immediate doctor attention, who prescribe post-exposure prophylaxis.

KSPCA also advises that one should not attempt to catch the animal by themselves, but rather contact a veterinary officer, as they are equipped to deal with the animal safely and humanely. Also, do not stone or kill the animal.

However, rabies is not only transmitted by dogs, but also by cats, bats, raccoons, foxes, jackals, mongooses, among other mammals.

Additionally, rabies is not only spread from a bite or lick, but also when the saliva of a rabid animal enters the body through broken skin.

Usually, infected dogs often display clear behaviour changes: friendly animals may become shy or irritable, whereas aggressive animals may become affectionate and docile.

Symptoms of rabies in dogs include: constant licking of the bite site, jaw dropped, inability to swallow, hydrophobia, seen in extreme or irrational fear of water, change in tone of bark, disorientation, seizures, paralysis and excessive foam at the mouth.