U.S. experts have reported that a rabies vaccine that saved the life of a teenager in 2004, has not worked in two children infected with the deadly disease.
A 10 tear old Indiana girl and an 11 year old boy from California both died from rabies, despite both of them received the treatment which involves putting the patient into an induced coma and then administering antiviral drugs.
According to health officials, the girl contracted the rabies virus after being bitten by a bat and the boy contracted the virus after being bitten by a dog.
Rabies is a viral disease humans may get from being bitten by an animal infected with the rabies. It attacks the central nervous system (CNS) and, if not treated in time, can lead to anxiety, confusion, paralysis, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing and fear of water. Death usually occurs within a week of the onset of symptoms.
Health Officials state that for a person to survive a rabid bite, administration of drugs must be administered immediately after the incident, and if one waits until symptoms are exhibited then it is too late.
In 2006, rabies was reported in 24 humans across the United States and the virus reportedly kills 55 thousand people each year. The greatest number of human deaths occur in Asia and Africa.
The CDC report states that the typical incubation period for rabies is between 1 to 3 months.
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