Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the nervous system and can be fatal once symptoms appear. If you’re travelling to areas where rabies is present, it’s vital to understand the disease’s progression and how vaccination can provide essential protection. Here at Sheffield Travel Clinic, we offer guidance and vaccination services to keep you safe. For those at risk, the rabies vaccine Manchester travellers can access is one of the most effective prevention methods.
Day 1: Exposure to the Virus
How Infection Begins
Rabies typically spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, often through a bite or scratch. The virus can also enter the body through open wounds or mucous membranes. Once the virus enters the body, it begins to replicate at the site of entry before gradually spreading to the nervous system.
Immediate Steps
If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical care immediately. Timely wound cleaning can reduce the risk of infection, and healthcare providers may administer a post-exposure vaccine to prevent the virus from advancing.
Days 5-20: The Virus Spreads
Incubation Period
After exposure, rabies enters an incubation phase that typically lasts one to three months, though it can vary between a few days and several years. During this time, the virus remains close to the infection site, slowly travelling along peripheral nerves toward the central nervous system.
No Symptoms Yet
In this stage, you may feel normal and show no signs of illness. However, the virus is progressing toward the brain, where it will cause severe symptoms once it reaches its target. This incubation period is why post-exposure vaccination must be administered as soon as possible.
Day 20-60: Symptoms Appear
Initial Signs of Rabies
As the virus reaches the central nervous system, early symptoms begin to appear. These are often flu-like, including:
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Pain or tingling at the site of the bite
At this stage, rabies may still be misdiagnosed due to its generalised symptoms. However, as the infection progresses, more severe and distinct symptoms will develop, signalling the virus’s impact on the brain.
Day 60-90: Severe Neurological Symptoms Develop
Acute Neurological Phase
Once rabies fully reaches the brain, it triggers severe neurological symptoms. Patients may experience two types of rabies: furious or paralytic.
- Furious Rabies: This form is more common and includes extreme agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, and hydrophobia (fear of water) due to painful throat spasms.
- Paralytic Rabies: This form is less common and causes muscle weakness, paralysis, and numbness, often beginning at the site of infection.
These symptoms are physically and emotionally distressing and indicate the advanced stage of the infection.
No Cure
At this point, there is no effective treatment, and rabies is nearly always fatal once severe symptoms have developed. The neurological symptoms typically lead to coma within days.
Day 90-95: Coma and Fatal Outcome
Coma and Organ Failure
In the final stage of rabies, patients fall into a coma, and organ systems begin to fail as the virus overwhelms the body. Death typically occurs within a few days due to respiratory or cardiac failure.
The Importance of the Rabies Vaccine: Protecting Yourself
Rabies is one of the most severe viral infections, with almost no chance of survival once symptoms appear. This timeline demonstrates how quickly and irreversibly rabies progresses, emphasising the importance of preventive vaccination.
Why Vaccination is Key
For travellers at risk, particularly those visiting areas with high rabies incidence, the rabies vaccine offers critical protection. The vaccine helps your immune system recognise and fight the virus before it has a chance to spread through the nervous system. Here at Travel Template 1, we strongly recommend the rabies vaccine for those travelling to high-risk regions, especially if you’ll be in remote areas with limited access to medical facilities.
Accessing the Rabies Vaccine in Manchester
If you’re planning to travel to a region where rabies is prevalent, consider a preventive vaccination at Travel Template 1. Not only does the vaccine provide essential protection, but it also gives you peace of mind, knowing you’re safeguarded against one of the world’s deadliest infections.
With rabies prevention, early protection is everything. Get in touch to schedule your consultation and vaccination with us today, and protect yourself with the rabies vaccine Manchester travellers trust.
This blog was written on behalf of Travel Template 1 by Pharmacy Mentor.