Dipali Pagar*
All warm-blooded animals, including humans, are susceptible to rabies, a virus that attacks the central nervous system [1], [2]. Once clinical signs start to show up, this zoonotic disease almost often results in lethal encephalitis in humans and other mammals [3]. Severe neurological symptoms precede paralysis and death as a result of the illness [4]. Rabies is still a fatal but preventable viral illness since there is no effective treatment once symptoms appear [5]. While wild animals serve as the primary hosts in developed regions, dogs are the predominant reservoirs of infection in the majority of underdeveloped countries [6]. Except for a small number of European nations, a number of Caribbean islands, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, the disease is widespread worldwide. The vast and mostly uncontrollable reservoir of sylvatic rabies found in wild animals is making the disease a larger hazard to both humans and domestic animals in many parts of the world [1]. Rabies is an acute viral infection of the central nervous system caused by a Lyssavirus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family [4], [7]. Derived from the Greek word for "rod," "Rhabdo" describes the virus's characteristic rod- or bullet-shaped structure [1]. Rabies can infect any creature, including humans, cats, dogs, wild animals, and livestock. In animals, the illness typically progresses through three stages: prodromal, excitation (furious), and paralysis (dumb). Human transmission occurs most commonly by bites, scratches, or licks to broken skin or mucous membranes contaminated with infectious saliva [8]. Rabies is still a serious global public health concern, mainly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where it is estimated to cause 35,000 deaths annually [6]. The World Health Organisation (WHO) claims that rabies is a neglected tropical disease that mostly strikes impoverished and healthcare-poor countries [12]. According to current estimates, rabies kills approximately 55,000 people annually [7], and there is evidence that the illness is reemerging in a number of places [9]. The most important human transmission vectors are still domestic dogs [13]. However, with prompt medical attention, rabies can be avoided. The virus can be neutralised before it enters the nervous system by post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which consists of administering the rabies vaccine, using immunoglobulins, and providing prompt wound care [7], [14]. The risk of rabies transmission can be considerably decreased by raising public awareness and teaching communities about dog behaviour, how to treat bite victims, and preventative measures [7], [9]. Thus, this review's main goal is to provide current knowledge about rabies prevention and control.
10.5281/zenodo.17553948