Rabies belong to the Retrovirus family i.e. a virus having RNA as the genetic material. Rabies causes severe encephalitis and can affect the peripheral nerves. It causes hydrophobia, lethargy and leads to coma. Death usually occurs through cessation of respiration. Rabies is completely curable in the prodromic stage which is the first stage of infection. This stage is about 1 to 3 days in length after infection with viral particles. Beyond this stage rabies is 99% fatal and almost has no cure.

The rabies vaccine was first developed by Louis Pasteur and Emile roux - pioneers of the preventive medicine research field. The vaccine was prepared by weakening the nerve tissue by drying them from 5 to 10 days. However this was a crude method and was considered cheap in preparation. Today much advancement has replaced the conventional vaccines. ''post exposure prophylaxis" is the widely used treatment method for rabies. The method has proved to be effective and was successful applied in most parts of USA and Germany.

Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) involves washing the wound site with water for 5 minutes or treating with tincture iodine. Then a combined dose of Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG) and rabies vaccine is administered over a period of 14 days. HRIG covers the majority of cost of this method as purified immunoglobulin is tough to extract. The vaccines are delivered in the intramuscular region by means of an injection in the deltoid muscle.

Prevention of rabies involves:

1. Treatment of affected person.

2. Vaccination of animals.

Treatment of infected person:

Individuals who are on the advanced stage of the disease have no effect for PEP. PEP is effective only in initial stages as stated earlier. Treatment in this case is done by following "Milwaukee protocol". This protocol was developed by a group of scientists from USA. This treatment relies on induced coma wherein the brain is shut down of all its activities partially leaving the immune system to overcome the viral particles. The procedure uses a combination of antibiotics involving ketamine, midazolam and amantadine. Ketamine used above is a potential inhibitor or rabies virus in rats. Amantadine and midazolam revives the affected neural cells in the brain.

Vaccination of animals:

Vaccination of animals involves 2 stages:

1. Initial vaccination:

A vaccine primarily carries the antigen of a particular disease. When they are administered the body develops antibodies to counteract on the antigens. Every antibody is specific to an antigen which is specific to a particular disease. Initial vaccinations involve administration of antigen shots over a period of 28 days. After 28 days a peak antibody concentration was reached in the animal blood and the animals are said to be immunized.

2. Booster vaccination:

Exactly after one year of initial vaccination booster vaccine is administered. Booster vaccine contains extremely specific chemical compounds that detect and remove traces of viral particles. The combination of chemicals used is classified and varies the manufacture. All vaccines are screened and authorized by USDA of USA. Every vaccine is screened for purity and should be able to confer immunity for at least a period of 3 years.