Preventing rabies this summer

MANILA, Philippines - Rabies is one of the most terrifying diseases known to man. Perhaps, the most devastating to witness a loved one die from.

Interestingly rabies, which is caused by a virus that infects the central nervous system, usually starts from a seemingly harmless scratch or superficial bite that most people will likely take for granted.

Unfortunately, if the rabies virus is present, symptoms will appear — a slight fever or an unusual tingling sensation at the wound area at the beginning but will soon get worse until that person is already exhibiting extremely aggressive and strange behaviors (like biting, lounging at anyone or anything as well as extreme fear of water). They will likely die from cardio-respiratory arrest.

Some patients will not develop these symptoms although they will become bedridden, paralyzed, and later, slip into coma.

But this is a tragedy that need not happen, as rabies is 100 percent preventable.

Although there is no cure for rabies once symptoms have appeared, scientists decades ago developed a highly effective vaccine that provides protection from the virus both before one is bitten or scratched — also called pre-exposure prophylaxis like antirabies vaccine or after being bitten or scratched — also called post-exposure prophylaxis like the equine rabies immune globulin or the human rabies immune globulin.

If not treated properly, a rabies-infected patient may die within three to five days.

During the recent press briefing that marked March as Rabies Awareness Month, experts explained that pre-exposure prophylaxis may be helpful for children and the rest of the household who may be in close proximity to a rabid pet or stray animals or do not report a bite or scratch out of ignorance or fear of being punished.

Since summer vacation is under way, children are expected to spend more time playing outdoors and have more chance of getting in contact with an infected animal.

Rabies is primarily a disease of children considering that nearly half of those bitten by suspected rabid animals are children under 15 years old, according to the World Health Organization. They are particularly at risk from this disease due to their propensity to play with pet or stray dogs (about 98 percent of rabies in the country is contracted from rabid dogs).

Department of Health assistant secretary and spokesman Dr. Eric Tayag explained that children are often unaware of the danger that dogs transmit rabies and may not tell their parents when a bite, lick or scratch has occurred.

“But we don’t have to kill any dog as we could have our pets or even strays vaccinated against rabies,” he said.

He added that while rabies vaccine is most recommended to individuals who are around animals or in an area where there are cases of rabies infections, getting pets vaccinated is another and perhaps, one of the most responsible and effective acts that pet owners could do.

In fact, the DOH is targeting a rabies-free Philippines by 2020 mainly through the vaccination of all dogs in the country.

However, if you are unlucky and encounter a dog that bites or scratches you, there are a few things you must do to try to stave off infection with rabies.

Wash the wound thoroughly, with strong soap and running water for at least 10 minutes.

In all cases, get to the nearest animal bite center as quickly as possible for immunization (there are more than 400 center all over the Philippines, around 20 in Metro Manila, including the one at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City and at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila).

According to the WHO, rabies accounts for about 55,000 deaths worldwide every year.

In the Philippines, the disease is responsible for the death of 200 to 300 Filipinos annually.