Düzce University expert issues rabies prevention and first aid warnings

In observance of World Rabies Day on September 28, Dr. Dilek Akıncı, a faculty member at Düzce University Faculty of Medicine, has issued warnings regarding the transmission and prevention of rabies. She emphasized that the disease, which affects the central nervous system, is almost entirely fatal once symptoms appear.

Dr. Akıncı noted that the virus is typically transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal contacting open wounds or mucous membranes. The incubation period generally lasts from a few weeks to several months, though proximity to the head or neck can shorten this timeframe.

For immediate first aid following a bite or scratch, Dr. Akıncı recommends washing the wound thoroughly with plenty of water and liquid soap for at least 10 to 15 minutes to reduce the viral load. She advised against suturing or closing the wound and urged individuals to seek medical attention immediately to begin protective vaccination programs.