DOH Issues Preventive Tips Against Rabies During This Summer

The Department of Health (DOH) has recommended different ways for the prevention and control of rabies amid its threat during the summer season when people, including school children, are in vacation mode.

According to the DOH Health Advisory, the people themselves can help prevent the threat of rabies by being responsible pet owners.

“Have your pet dog immunized by a veterinarian against rabies at three months old and every year thereafter,” said DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin.

She added that responsible dog owners should make sure that their dogs are getting the anti-rabies vaccines and at the same time not allowing their pet dogs to roam the streets.

The Health Chief also said that the Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and local government units (LGUs) are coordinating for the conduct of community programs focusing on vaccination of dogs.

Aside from that, it is also recommended that pet owners should regularly bathe their pet dogs and provide them with clean food and drinks as well as clean sleeping quarters.

For individuals who have high-risk occupation, the agency recommends for them to have pre-exposure anti-rabies vaccine.

People who handle animals, like veterinarians, zookeepers, and animal scientists may need preventive vaccination involving three shots over one month, along with booster shots over the years to maintain the effectiveness of the vaccination.

For people traveling to any part of the world where rabies is still common and they are likely to come in close contact with wild animals, doctors recommend a preventive series of the rabies vaccines before they go.

Pet dog immunization by a veterinarian against rabies is usually recommended when the pet is at three months old and every year thereafter.

Rabies is a deadly viral infection that is mainly transmitted when individuals are bitten and afflicted by the infected saliva of rabid animals like dogs.

The following are signs and symptoms of rabies infection:headache and fever; pain or numbness of bite site; delirium and paralysis; muscle spasms; hydrophobia and aerophobia.

According to the DOH, animal bites resulting to rabies are among the common illnesses during the summer months since many individuals, especially children, are playing in the outdoors and there is a tendency that roaming dogs may accidentally bite them as they run or in cases wherein they may unintentionally hurt a dog, causing it to react and harm the children with bites because of irritations.

When bitten by a dog, victims are advised to wash the wound immediately with soap and running water to prevent also tetanus infection.

Big and small wounds that have been filled with dirt are likely to develop tetanus conditions also, aside from the rabies infection.

The DOH advises bite victims to consult a physician immediately or go to the nearest Animal Bite Treatment Center in their area to get the anti-rabies vaccine (if no anti-rabies vaccine has been provided prior to the bite and the victim is not sure if the biting dog has been vaccinated).

“Visit the animal bite center to get rabies vaccination immediately,” said the DOH advisory.

Usually, the victims are also being advised to observe the dog for 14 days to see if it manifests any of the following symptoms:

Wild and runs aimlessly; drools; bites any moving or non-moving object; does not eat or drink; or dies within observation period.

The DOH is the principal health agency in the Philippines. It is responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and regulation of providers of health goods and services. (PNA) SCS/LSJ/EDS