World's deadliest disease has a fatality rate of close to 100%
Transmission: Rabies is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, usually a dog.
Symptoms: Early symptoms include fever, headache, and general malaise, but as the disease progresses, it leads to severe neurological symptoms like confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and paralysis.
Progression: Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies rapidly progresses to severe neurological symptoms, coma, and death.
Fatality Rate: Without prompt and appropriate treatment, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin to appear.
Incubation Period: The incubation period for rabies can vary, but symptoms usually appear within 1 to 3 months after exposure.
Prevention: Rabies is preventable through post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if administered promptly after exposure. This typically includes a series of rabies vaccinations and, in some cases, rabies immune globulin.
Diagnosis: Rabies can be diagnosed through laboratory tests of saliva, serum, or spinal fluid, and post-mortem examination of brain tissue.
Treatment: Once symptoms are present, there is no effective treatment for rabies, making early intervention crucial.