WHO calls for better dog vaccination programs worldwide

MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday underscored the need to scale up dog vaccination programs globally to effectively reduce the risk of rabies.

According to the WHO, more than 55,000 individuals are killed by rabies across the globe.

“Worldwide, dog bites are the cause of almost all human rabies’ deaths, with a much smaller number of cases occurring each year from other domestic and wild animals, including bats,” WHO said.

WHO records show that rabies occurs in more than 150 countries and territories and most of the rabies-related deaths come from Asia and Africa.

“Forty percent of people who are bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age. Dogs are the source of the vast majority of human rabies deaths,” the agency noted.

It added that “wound cleansing and immunization within a few hours after contact with a suspect rabid animal can prevent the onset of rabies and death.”

WHO describes rabies as a zoonotic disease – a disease that is transmitted to humans from animals – that is caused by a virus. The disease infects domestic and wild animals, and is spread to people through close contact with infected saliva via bites or scratches.

“Rabies is a neglected disease of poor and vulnerable populations whose deaths are rarely reported. It occurs mainly in remote rural communities where measures to prevent dog to human transmission have not been implemented,” WHO said.

The symptoms of rabies usually come out usually from one to three months but may vary from one week to one year.

The initial symptoms are fever and often pain or an unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking or burning sensation at the wound site.

“As the virus spreads through the central nervous system, progressive, fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops. Two forms of the disease can follow. People with furious rabies exhibit signs of hyperactivity, excited behavior, hydrophobia and sometimes aerophobia. After a few days, death occurs by cardio-respiratory arrest,” WHO added.