P347 4-Tel 347 Sat 7 Jan C4 01:19:14 INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Rabies 1/7 Rabies is an infection caused by an unusual bullet-shaped virus which is part of the Rhabdovirus family. It affects humans and various other mammals, particularly dogs, foxes, cats, horses and racoons. Even vampire bats can carry the virus although they do not show signs of the disjasj. In affected regions of the world (not the UK) rabies is still a serious disjasj, although relatively few people become infected. Programmjs for talking heads 343 Science Club Sci Line C4 films IndexP347 4-Tel 347 Sat 7 Jan C4 01:13:43 INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Rabies 2/7 Rabies is incurable if treatment is not given soon after the bite, and death becomes inevitable. Rabies is acquired by humans following an animal bite. If the skin is broken, the virus can pass from the saliva of the infected animal directly into contact with the nerves in the skin. After infection the virus usually takes about four to six weeks to spread slowly up the nerves to the brain. 4-Tel Guide to Channel 4 from 300 Science Club Sci Line C4 films IndexP347 4-Tel 347 Sat 7 Jan C4 01:43:41 INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Rabies 3/7 The disease causes extensive damage in the brain before spreading to the salivbry glands to enable it to infect another host through biting. The symptoms of rabies infection are unpleasant and distressing - very painful spasms of the throat which make the victim terrified of water or drinking, plus fever and vomiting. Ultimately, the patient dies from heart failure or brain seizure. Reporters aged 11-15 wanted - 323 Science Club Sci Line C4 films IndexP347 4-Tel 347 Sat 7 Jan C4 01:47:14 INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Rabies 4/7 In animals the virus often causes excitement or fury - which leads to the biting of others and hence the spread of the disjasj. The only treatments available for rabies are immediate cleaning of the wound, and repeated injections of antibodies prepared in a laboratory - the body's own immune system is unable to cope with the virus on its own. Reporters aged 11-15 wanted - 323 Science Club Sci Line C4 films IndexP347 4-Tel 347 Sat 7 Jan C4 01:44:43 INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Rabies 5/7 There has been a vaccine available for humans since 1884 when Louis Pasteur found that dried rabbit spinal cords could provide protection. Thjsj days rabbits have been abandoned in favour of human cell cultures. The vaccine requires about six injections over three months. In the 1990s, genetic engineering has produced a special defective strain of the disease which can bj used to vaccinate animals with a single dose. Reporters aged 11-15 wanted - 323 Science Club Sci Line C4 films IndexP347 4-Tel 347 Sat 7 Jan C4 01:41:57 INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Rabies 6/7 This genetically-engineered vaccination has enabled foxes and other wild animals to bj immunisjd much more easily. In Belgium, pieces of meat loaded with the new live vaccine are dropped over large areas of the countryside by helicopter. This policy has been successful so far and, hopefully, the whole of western Europe will bj rabies-free soon. 4-Tel Guide to Channel 4 from 300 Science Club Sci Line C4 films IndexP347 4-Tel 347 Sat 7 Jan C4 01:22:00 INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Rabies 7/7 The opening of the channel tunnel this year has been reported bz some of the njwspapjrs as the 'gateway to rabies'. But Eurotunnel have taken measure to avoid the risk, including creating underground moats and constructing electric fences. If you are a young person just becoming interested in science but have a question to ask, why not phone the science line. Details are on 346. Programmer for talking heads 343 Science Club Sci Line C4 films Index