In line with summer, is the eradication upon rabies cases from different communities.
Amid the heat of summer and the fiesta fever this May, the crackdown on rabies is spreading like wildfire.
Rabies is a fatal disease transmitted to humans through animal (especially dogs and cats) bites, scratches and licks. It continues to be a public health menace and is responsible for the deaths of at least 300 people every year, with children at the highest risk for it
In fact, the Department of Health (DOH) recently launched a campaign to eliminate deaths from rabies by the year 2020.
Doctors, especially veterinarians, consider to be a neglected disease that is believed to be 100% fatal if left untreated but is easily preventable.
Government and private hospitals usually have animal bite centers, like the one at San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz.
The first thing to do is to wash your animal bite wound with regular soap and running water for at least 10 minutes, then go to the nearest hospital for emergency animal bite treatment.
Remember: Prevention is better than the cure.
This story appeared in Animal Scene’s May 2017 issue.
