Rabies cases on the rise

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 9, 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Cases of rabies reportedly increased steadily for the past three years, prompting the
government to intensify its campaign to eradicate the disease among humans and animals by 2020.

Emelina Lopez, officer-in-charge of the Animal Health Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), said
government efforts are now concentrated on small island groups where most rabies cases are recorded.

Last year, 545 rabies cases among animals were recorded, up from 475 cases in 2012 and 473 in 2010.

Most of the cases tend to occur in densely populated areas with poor sanitation.

If intervention is not stepped up, Lopez warned the number of rabies cases in the country is expected to increase
further.

In 2013, most of the recorded cases occurred in the provinces of Cebu with 55; Misamis Oriental, 43; Bulacan,
39; Pangasinan, 32; and Pampanga with 28 cases.

More cases were also reported in Cavite, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Rizal and Laguna.

Last year, 98 percent of animal rabies cases occurred in dogs, 1.8 percent in cats, and 0.2 percent in goats. There
have been no reported rabies cases in wild animals.

As of 2013, there are already 15 rabies-free zones in the country. These include the island province of Siquijor;
Batanes; Apo Island, Dauin in Negros Oriental; Malapascua Island in Cebu; Camotes Island in Cebu; Guimaras;
Olympia Island and Bais city in Negros Oriental; Culion, Palawan; Coron, Palawan; Busuanga, Palawan;
Boracay Island and Malay municipality in Aklan.

Lopez is encouraging local government units to take advantage of the assistance provided by the government to
control the occurrence of rabies. These include mass vaccination, dog control measures, as well as dog spaying
and castration.

The National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee kicks off today the Rabies Awareness Month in
Payatas, Quezon City to increase public awareness on the importance of collaborative efforts to eliminate rabies
in the country.

Lopez said that for this year, BAI has allotted a minimum of P40 million to support rabies control operations in
local government units.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), meanwhile, is turning over 300,000 doses of rabies vaccines
for special programs in rabies prone areas.
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Rabies is a contagious viral disease that can be passed to humans through the bite of an infected animal. It has a
100% fatality rate in both animals and humans, and around 50,000-70,000 people die of rabies worldwide every
year. There is currently no cure, but it can be greatly prevented by vaccinating domesticated animals.

In addition to dogs, cats, goats, rats, rabbits and bats all are rabies carriers.

Rabies in Dogs

Rabies is a virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs, cats and humans. Though
preventable, there is good reason that the word rabies evokes fear in people. The disease has been reported in every
state except Hawaii, and everywhere throughout the world except for Australia and Antarctica. Annually, rabies causes
the deaths of more than 50,000 humans and millions of animals worldwide. Once symptoms appear, the disease results in
fatality.
How Would My Dog Get Rabies?
Since animals who have rabies secrete large amounts of virus in their saliva, the disease is primarily passed to dogs
through a bite from an infected animal. It can also be transmitted through a scratch or when infected saliva makes contact
with mucous membranes or an open, fresh wound. The risk runs highest if your dog-or any pet-is exposed to wild animals.
The most common carriers of the rabies virus in this country are bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. In the United States,
rabies is reported in cats more than in any domestic species. If there are also cats in your household, its important to
make sure they are vaccinated and kept indoors.
What Are the General Symptoms of Rabies?
Initially, a dog whos become infected may show extreme behavioral changes such as restlessness or apprehension, both
of which may be compounded by aggression. Friendly dogs may become irritable, while normally excitable animals may
become more docile. A dog may bite or snap at any form of stimulus, attacking other animals, humans and even
inanimate objects. They may constantly lick, bite and chew at the site where they were bitten. A fever may also be present
at this stage.
As the virus progresses, an infected dog may become hypersensitive to touch, light and sound. They may eat unusual
things and hide in dark places. Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles may follow, resulting in the well-known symptom of
foaming at the mouth. Disorientation, incoordination and staggering may occur, caused by paralysis of the hind legs.
Other classic signs of rabies include loss of appetite, weakness, seizures and sudden death.
How Long After Infection Do Signs of Rabies Show?
The virus usually incubates from two to eight weeks before signs are noticed. However, transmission of the virus through
saliva can happen as early as ten days before symptoms appear.
Which Dogs Are Most at Risk for Contracting Rabies?
Unvaccinated dogs who are allowed to roam outdoors without supervision are most at risk for infection. Theyre exposed
to wild animals and have a greater chance of fighting with infected stray dogs or cats.
How Is Rabies Diagnosed?
There is no accurate test to diagnose rabies in live animals. The direct fluorescent antibody test is the most accurate test
for diagnosis--but because it requires brain tissue, it can only be performed after the death of the animal.

What to do if you are exposed to rabies
If you are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, you must
1. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
2. Apply ethanol or a similar antiseptic to prevent secondary infection.
3. Seek urgent medical attention. You need to start post-exposure prophylaxis as soon as possible.


Here are some things you need to know about rabies, as mentioned by Deray:
1. Rabies is caused by a virus that infects the central nervous system. A patient may die within three to five days.
2. Rabies accounts for about 55,000 deaths worldwide every year, and majority of the fatalities are children. In the Philippines,
the disease is responsible for the death of 200 to 300 Filipinos annually.
3. Rabies cases are usually higher in the Philippines during summer, when children spend more time playing outdoors.
4. There are two ways that a person can get the rabies virus through the bite of a rabid animal such as a dog, and by
inhalation. The latter occurs only in special circumstances, such as when the patient is inside a laboratory.
5. Here are some signs that you may have rabies: anxiety, stress and tension, delirium, drooling, convulsions, exaggerated
sensation at the bite site, hallucinations, loss of feeling in an area of the body, loss of muscle function, low-grade fever (102
degrees Fahrenheit or lower), muscle spasms, numbness and tingling, pain at the side of the bite, restlessness, insomnia, and
swallowing difficulty.
6. Rabies cannot be cured, but it is preventable. There are two ways to prevent this disease by vaccinating dogs, and by
vaccinating humans. Traditional healers approaches to treating rabies have no scientific basis.
7. When bitten by stray animals who may have rabies, do the following: 1) immediately wash the bite with soap and clean water.
Antiseptics may be applied. 2) Consult a physician or go to your nearest animal bite center for immunization. 3) Consult a
veterinarian for the management of the biting dog.
8. The DOH is targeting a rabies-free Philippines by 2020 mainly through the vaccination of all dogs in the country.
Rabies
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast
majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild
animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. The early
symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general
weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia,
anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva),
difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these
symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of rabies?
The first symptoms of rabies may be very similar to those of the flu including general weakness or discomfort,
fever, or headache. These symptoms may last for days.
There may be also discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the site of bite, progressing within days to
symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may
experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia.
The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is
nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically supportive.
Disease prevention includes administration of both passive antibody, through an injection of human immune
globulin and a round of injections with rabies vaccine.
Once a person begins to exhibit signs of the disease, survival is rare. To date less than 10 documented cases of
human survival from clinical rabies have been reported and only two have not had a history of pre- or
postexposure prophylaxis.