Rage is a rare disease in Europe, but this virus is still present in other regions of the world.
Case of rage in Perpignan, an in -law survey
According to information from the Independent and Actus.fr, the patient hospitalized on September 18 died on September 25 at the Perpignan hospital. The diagnosis, confirmed by the Pasteur Institute, would leave no doubt: “The diagnosis of rage was confirmed by the National Reference Center of Rage at the Institut Pasteur, the day before its death“(Actus.fr). The caregivers who took care of it were vaccinated as a precaution, even if as a reminder, the rage cannot be transmitted between humans.
At this stage, the epidemiological survey must still determine the origin of the contamination. The hospital added: “In order to preserve medical confidentiality and out of respect for the patient’s family, no other comments will be brought on this subject at this stage“.
What is rage? Rare but deadly disease
Rage remains one of the most dreaded infectious diseases, because once declared, it is almost always fatal. As explained by Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical: “In Europe, rage is largely eradicated, thanks to the vaccination of wild and domestic animals“. There are less than thirty cases since 1970, the latest concerned a woman in Reims who had been injured by a cat during a stay in a Maghreb country.
However, sporadic cases still occur in France, generally linked to stays abroad. The main vectors are well identified: “The main vectors are canides (including the dog), cats and bats“According to the World Health Organization, around 59,000 deaths occur every year worldwide, mainly in Asia and Africa.
How is the rage transmitted and what to do in the event of a bite?
The transmission is mainly done by the saliva of a contaminated animal. Dr. Kierzek specifies: “The rage is mainly transmitted by the saliva of an infected animal, generally during a bite or a scratch that makes the saliva penetrate into the body“. An apparently healthy animal can already be contagious a few days before the appearance of symptoms (fever, headache, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), anxiety and agitation, fear of water and more rarely, motor disorders). The first signs can appear between 3 and 12 weeks after exposure, but later cases are documented, sometimes several months or years later. Cases as soon as the symptoms appear, according to the World Health Organization.
In the event of a suspect bite, the procedure is immediate: wash the wound carefully, consult a doctor without delay and contact an anti -rabic center. If the risk is proven, “If the risk of rabies is proven, post-exhibition prophylaxis (PPE) will be put in place, including an anti-rabic vaccination and sometimes the administration of immunoglobulins“, Recalls the expert. Vigilance therefore remains in the face of this formidable but avoidable disease thanks to prevention.