Rabies treatment

     After a possible exposure to the rabies virus, rabies treatment is absolutely necessary. It is required cleaning the wounds and vaccination because these are the most effective ways to stop the spread of infection.

     Outpatient rabies treatment is limited to just avoid contact with the virus, the immediate and appropriate treatment of the wound, followed by specialist medical advice to determine if there is any risk of infection.

     To avoid contact with the rabies virus the following are recommended:

• Vaccination against rabies virus to pets such as cats and dogs;
• If the pet had a different owner,the new owner must ask for the pet sheet of animal vaccination. Veterinarians issue a certificate after the vaccination of animals. When there is no such evidence is necessary for the veterinarian to confirm vaccination;
• To avoid any contact with bats. In some geographical areas, the rabies in humans is associated with contact with persons infected by bats;
• Avoid contact or attempts to domesticate wild animals as foxes, skunks, raccoons or coyote. Children should be instructed to avoid these animals;
• Garbage storage must be done in specially built containers, plastic bags so not to attract wild animals;
• Blocking all possible access routes of wild animals into the home;
• Avoid contact with dead animals, and especially with their brain tissue.

Rabies treatment in case of animal bites

     For rabies treatment in case of animal bites or other contacts with a high risk of infection, the following measures can be taken:

• Cleaning the wound and other exposed areas with soap and water. Then, a doctor has to decide if other measures of rabies treatment are necessary ;
• If the animal which provoke the wound is a domestic one (dog, cat) try to catch it or to contact the owner;
• If the bite is caused by a wild animal is not recommend to catch it. We have to establish the species from which the animal belongs and if there are any abnormalities in the animal behavior. If the animal was killed, his head must be kept, without touching the brain. The doctors from the Directorate of Public Health will test the tissue to determine whether the virus is present;
• Any important bite or scratch should be reported to the public health directorates. Doctors will assess the risk of infection and they will capture the animal for testing.If the animal is infected, the doctors will euthanized it;
• Health professionals will determine whether tetanus vaccination is necessary to provide protection against tetanus (tetanus infection that occurs when bacteria come into contact with an open wound). Tetanus vaccination which is performed in childhood in the national vaccination program should then be repeated from 10 to 10 years. Revaccination is recommended when there is a contaminated wound, and more than 5 years have passed since the last vaccination, or if the date of last vaccination is unknown. It is recommended that tetanus vaccination to be done in the first 48 hours after the bite or the wound contamination.