Five already died from rabies
LINGAYEN—Be careful with dog bites. Five persons already died due to rabies over the past three months.
Dr. Eric Perez, provincial veterinarian said the victims were bitten by dogs in December last year yet but signs and symptoms manifested only in February this year.
He pointed out that the time lag for symptoms appear depending on which of the human body part was bitten. “If the bite was near the central nervous system, the virus travels faster,” he said.
The victims were children and adults.
Fourteen heads of dogs so far have been confirmed by Regional Animal Diagnostic Laboratory in Sta. Barbara town were found positive of rabies.
Perez said despite efforts to intensify coverage of anti-rabies vaccination of dogs, only 40 percent was achieved last year.
The provincial veterinary office provided vaccines last year good for about 300,000 dogs for all the six districts of Pangasinan, Perez said.
His office is targeting 80 percent with the assistance from the Bureau of Animal Industry, in observance of the Rabies Awareness Month in March.
Rabies is not only for dogs but also other warm-blooded animals, Perez clarified.
He advised pet owners to have their pets, cats and dogs, to be vaccinated at age three months old and must be vaccinated yearly.
As first aid treatment, bite victims should wash the bitten body part with running water and soap for about 10 minutes then apply Povidone-Iodine solution. The dog (or cat) must be monitored in a cage for two weeks and the victim must go to animal bite center for medical treatment, he added. (Tita Roces)
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