Final answer:
A bite from an infected animal can transmit rabies, which affects the central nervous system and can be fatal. Preventative measures include widespread vaccination of pets and wildlife, and for humans, immediate wound care and vaccination after exposure. The disease usually reaches the central nervous system within a week post-bite.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bite from an infected animal can transmit rabies to humans. The goal of wildlife vaccination programs is to prevent the spread of rabies in wild animal populations, which can then reduce the incidence in domestic animals and humans. The standard treatment for a human exposed to rabies is immediate cleaning of the wound, followed by the administration of a rabies vaccine and in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It usually takes about a week for the virus to travel from the site of the bite to the central nervous system in humans. Once rabies symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. Therefore, preventive measures such as vaccination of domestic animals and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for humans are critical.
For a person bitten by a potentially rabid animal, immediate medical attention is imperative. The healthcare provider will assess the wound, determine the risk of rabies exposure based on the animal's vaccination status or behavior, and administer appropriate treatment. Because of widespread vaccination in domestic animals, human rabies cases are infrequent in regions with robust animal vaccine programs, but rabies remains a serious health concern in areas where vaccination is not as common.