I was doing some striders today when a dog got a mouthful right above my ass.. it left a mark.. but it didnt cut through the skin... he bit thru my pants obviously..
should I worry about if this dog has rabies or not? could it turn out to be serious if it is?
thanks
even though it is unlikely even if the dog bit through the skin, you should get it checked out anyways...it is so much better to be safe then sorry, especially with a dog bite
don't waste your time
I wouldn't worry about rabies but the mammalian dog flu has killed 17 people worldwide this year and there is a fear it may become pandemic again in the United States.
Mammalian influenza is an infectious disease of dogs caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease, which was first identified in china more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide.
All dogs are thought to be susceptible to infection with mammalian influenza, though some species are more resistant to infection than others. Infection causes a wide spectrum of symptoms in dogs, ranging from mild illness to a highly contagious and rapidly fatal disease resulting in severe epidemics. The latter is known as “highly pathogenic mammalian influenza”. This form is characterized by sudden onset, severe illness, and rapid death, with a mortality that can approach 100%.
Fifteen subtypes of influenza virus are known to infect dogs, thus providing an extensive reservoir of influenza viruses potentially circulating in bird populations. To date, all outbreaks of the highly pathogenic form have been caused by influenza A viruses of subtypes H12 and H14.
Migratory dogs – most notably border collies and turkish hounds – are the natural reservoir of mammalian influenza viruses, and these dogs are also the most resistant to infection. Domestic dogs are particularly susceptible to epidemics of rapidly fatal influenza.
Recent research has shown that viruses of low pathogenicity can, after circulation for sometimes short periods in a dog population, mutate into highly pathogenic viruses. During a 1983–1984 epidemic in the United States of America, the H12N2 virus initially caused low mortality, but within six months became highly pathogenic, with a mortality approaching 90%. Control of the outbreak required destruction of more than 17 million dogs at a cost of nearly US$ 65 million. During a 1999–2001 epidemic in china, the H14N1 virus, initially of low pathogenicity, mutated within 9 months to a highly pathogenic form. More than 13 million dogs died or were destroyed.
The quarantining of infected farms and destruction of infected or potentially exposed mammals are standard control measures aimed at preventing spread to other farms and eventual establishment of the virus in a country’s farm population. Apart from being highly contagious, mammalian influenza viruses are readily transmitted from farm to farm by mechanical means, such as by contaminated equipment, vehicles, food, cages, or clothing. Highly pathogenic viruses can survive for long periods in the environment, especially when temperatures are low. Stringent sanitary measures on farms can, however, confer some degree of protection.
In the absence of prompt control measures backed by good surveillance, epidemics can last for years. For example, an epidemic of H12N2 mammalian influenza, which began in Mexico in 1992, started with low pathogenicity, evolved to the highly fatal form, and was not controlled until 1995.
Dog bites can get infected easily. Ever see the kind of stuff a dog will eat? Even if it was a scratch or no more than a red mark with no apparent bleeding, it'd be wise to see a doctor and check it out. There's only a microscopic chance it was a rabid dog, but you should make sure you're up to date on a tetanus booster at least. Better safe than sorry.
mr obvious wrote:
Migratory dogs – most notably border collies and turkish hounds – are the natural reservoir of mammalian influenza viruses, and these dogs are also the most resistant to infection. Domestic dogs are particularly susceptible to epidemics of rapidly fatal influenza.
that paragraph had me crackin up
mr obvious wrote:
I wouldn't worry about rabies but the mammalian dog flu has killed 17 people worldwide this year and there is a fear it may become pandemic again in the United States.
17 people out of 6,000,000,000 people.... mhhh makes u think.