Gabriel: Rabies Is 100 Percent Fatal

By Venus G. Villanueva

A flock of dogs being lined up for rabies vaccination.

The province of Aklan aims to be rabies-free by 2010.
Dr. Emma Cortes, Provincial Health Officer II, Kalibo, Aklan told the guests and participants to the Update/Meeting on Rabies Prevention and Control Program held recently at the Gov. Corazon L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center, Old Buswang, Kalibo.
In her welcome remark, Dr. Cortes said rabies is a very fatal disease and the Philippines is one of the top 10 countries with high incidence of human deaths due to rabies.
According to Dr. Cortes, Region 6, where Aklan belongs, has the highest number of rabies deaths in 2005 with 39, while Region 3 has 33 and Region 5 has 30.
"Aklan had three rabies deaths in 2006. In the first half of 2007, one person died in the municipality of Altavas," Cortes disclosed.
Based on updates on Rabies Prevention and Control of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET), Kalibo, Aklan, Dr. Gervase Radislao revealed some 7,671 heads or 13.8 percent of the total dog population were vaccinated in 2006 while from January – April of this year, 961 dogs were vaccinated. OPVET – Aklan aims to vaccinate 80 percent of Aklan’s total dog population now numbering more than 55,000 to attain Aklan’s vision of being rabies-free by 2010.
On the other hand, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) Kalibo, Aklan noted in its 2006 accomplishment report that of the dog bite cases in Aklan, those mostly bitten persons were males, 15 years old and below. The PHO also found out that in Aklan, there is a low percentage of dog vaccination; implementation of Rabies Control Ordinance in municipalities is weak; pet owners are irresponsible, municipal rabies control committees are not organized; and there is an inadequate supply of dog vaccines.
The meeting/update was highlighted with the lecture/talk of Dr. Alberto Gabriel, Army Chief Surgeon of the Philippine Army. He discussed the Rabies Control Program Updates.
Dr. Gabriel talked on the different manners of transmission of rabies from dogs to humans, rabies prevention and the guidelines on the management of animal bite patients. According to him, "rabies could be transmitted through exceptional cases like the inhalation of virulent aerosol; man-to-man transmission of infected corneas; and by eating dog meat or "kilawin".
He also revealed that in 98 percent of dog bite cases, 88 percent were caused by pet dogs while only 10 percent were due to stray dogs. Although there are two clinical forms of rabies – the esophalitic and the paralytic, both will progress to coma and death, Gabriel disclosed.
Dr. Gabriel also talked on the proper care of wounds cause by dog bites as well as the different bite categories and what to do according to the categories.
"When bitten by a dog, first thing to do is to wash the wound vigorously with soap and water for 10 minutes, then apply antiseptic or alcohol. Keep the wound open and do not apply any ointment or even garlic," Dr. Gabriel emphasized to the participants composed mostly of government doctors, nurses, midwives, Provincial Health Officials and representatives of various national and provincial offices and the local media.
"Rabies is 100 percent fatal disease though preventable," Dr. Gabriel stressed. /MP