Mary Allen
Rabies is the name of a disease that has been known for thousands of years. It leads to inflammation of the brain in humans and animals. The disease is caused by viruses and can also be dangerous for humans.
Many people think of rabies as an aggressive dog foaming at the mouth. Most people around the world contract rabies from dogs. Sick animals are actually aggressive at first. Later, paralysis spreads throughout the body and the animals can hardly move or swallow. When they can no longer swallow the saliva in their mouth, the typical foam at the mouth develops.
There is no anti-rabies drug that will help if you are already sick. But there is a vaccination that prevents you from getting sick at all. Therefore, if you have been bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, you should see a doctor within 24 hours. That’s still so early that the disease hasn’t broken out yet.
The best way to combat rabies is to vaccinate dogs. In Europe, it is therefore mandatory to vaccinate dogs. Cats do not need to be vaccinated.