British News Agency

Research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to developing groundbreaking treatments that improve the health of people and animals today and for generations to come, while also focusing on raising awareness about the diseases it targets.

As part of this effort, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health unit shared important information about rabies, a disease that claims a life every nine minutes worldwide, on the occasion of World Rabies Day on September 28th.

Rabies is a "zoonotic" viral disease that occurs in both domestic and wild animals and can easily be transmitted from animals to humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers rabies one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world, claiming approximately 59,000 lives annually. Rabies causes the death of 160 people every day worldwide, with one person dying every nine minutes. Globally, 5.5 billion people are at risk of rabies every day, and 40 percent of those who succumb to it are children.

Most cases of rabies in humans result from dog bites, making vaccinating dogs the most effective way to eliminate rabies in humans.

Completely Preventable with Proper Vaccination and Awareness Programs

Rabies, while a globally effective and deadly disease, can be completely prevented with proper vaccination and awareness programs, providing hope in the fight against the disease. Therefore, a proper vaccination schedule is of utmost importance. Vaccination protects animals while preventing the disease from being transmitted to humans. Additionally, vaccination plays a vital role in the rapid treatment of individuals exposed to the virus. Boehringer Ingelheim is making sustainable efforts to raise awareness about rabies in the community, regularly collaborating with veterinarians, non-profit organizations, animal breeders, and all segments of society that frequently interact with animals.

How to Respond to Rabies?

Rabies can be fatal in both animals and humans once symptoms appear. In animals, rabies presents with severe behavioral changes and unexplained progressive paralysis, while in humans, early signs of rabies include headaches, fever, anxiety, tingling, or changes in sensitivity near the bite site. Rabies can lead to paralysis, coma, and ultimately death in both humans and animals. Therefore, time becomes extremely critical once signs of rabies manifest. Experts recommend that if there is suspicion that a person or a pet has come into contact with an infected animal, the wound should first be thoroughly washed with water and soap for approximately 15 minutes, followed by virucidal treatment such as 70 percent alcohol/ethanol, tincture, or iodine, and immediate medical attention should be sought.