RABIES

Rabies is an acute highly fatal viral disease of central nervous system caused by Lyssa virus type 1.
It is zoonotic disease of warm blooded animals especially carnivorous animals such as dogs, cats and wolves.
It is transmitted to man usually by bites or licks of rabid animals.
Rabies is an enzootic and epizootic disease of world wide importance. Some countries have achieved (rabies free) by vigorous campaign of elimination while in others the disease has never been introduced.
Water is regard as the most important barrier for rabies.
Rabies free area is defined as area in which no case of indigenously acquired rabies has been reported in man or animal in previous 2 years in presence of surveillance system and health regulations.
Infectious agent:
Lyssa virus type1 which is RNA virus belong to rhabdoviridae family.
Reservoir of infection:
Wild and domestic animal including dogs, foxes, wolves and other biting animals. Bats also regard as a reservoir of infection in some area like Mexico.
Source of infection:
The source of infection to man is the saliva of rabid animals. In dogs and cats the virus may be present in the saliva for 3 to 4 days before the onset of disease and persist during the course of illness until death.