The most common cause of rabies is a dog bite in a country where rabies is common (it is not found in UK dogs). Some wild bats in the UK carry rabies, & it is also found in cats, mongooses, jackals, foxes, & raccoons. All mammals can carry rabies.
If you are bitten by an animal in a location known to have rabies infections, wash the wound immediately with soap & running water, flushing the wound with the water for 10-15 minutes. Then disinfect it with alcohol or antiseptic, leave it uncovered, & seek immediate medical attention.
Commonly affected locations
Afghanistan, Argentina, Asia, Africa, Central America, South America
Symptoms*
Symptoms begin quite soon after being bitten or scratched by an infected animal, starting out as flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, & malaise (generally feeling ill), as well as possible anxiety, & soreness or itching at the site of the wound.
As the disease develops, the symptoms become more severe & include:
- mental confusion
- frothing at the mouth
- aggression, fear
- hallucination
- difficulty swallowing & breathing
- muscle spasms
- photosensitivity
- hydrophobia (fear of water)
- paralysis
