Hacker News Reader

HNHacker News

Top New Best Ask Show Jobs

Comment by savant_penguin | Hacker News Reader

Parent Full thread

savant_penguin·

25 cases in a decade

You are more likely to die by crossing the street

View on HN

>Each year, rabies causes approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6823e1.htm

Rabies cases in America are rare specifically because the authorities take it seriously. If authorities stop taking rabies seriously, expect:

> An estimated 31,000 human deaths due to rabies occur annually in Asia,[2] with the majority – approximately 20,000 – concentrated in India.

If you have been bit by a dog that cannot be located anymore, or that has an uncertain vaccination record, health care providers will initiate the rabies protocol regardless.

That's one of the reasons why it is rare in the US.

It is an absolutely horrible way to die. This may appear to be over the top for 25 cases, but should the vector be via puppies who very much chew and bite their owners, it would certainly be more than 25 cases. It is very prevalent in raccoons, squirrels and skunks — things that attract the attention of dogs.

Did I mention, it is an awful way to die because of a puppy and its forged vaccination papers?

Squirrels very rarely have it.

Is that globally? Or is that in the US, with restrictions/vaccinations/etc?

Edit: why downvote?

From TFA:

> rabies remains widespread across the world, killing some 59,000 people annually

So no, 25 / year is not globally.

That's basically my point. The restrictions and vaccinations seem to be working.

I would be interested to know what it was at its peak. You have to wonder how much of the rabies "scare" of the 90s was manufactured.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com