From rabies, without love

Newsweek Photo
Newsweek Photo

PERHAPS rabies is still among, if not, the deadliest diseases that threaten humankind since antiquity. Upon infection, its fatality rate is almost 100 percent. Mass vaccination of dogs is often the best prevention against rabies in any community. It is a well-documented approach, which eliminates the activities of the rabies virus from its source. Stray dog impounding is a close second. Unfortunately, not all cities in the country are stray-dog free. If stray dogs, which are virtually not vaccinated, are around, the risk for people to be bitten by a rabid dog remains very high.

Our local veterinary clinics can help very much in vaccinating home pets against rabies. A quick call or office visit with them can even help in home servicing. From a broader perspective, Asia and Africa have the highest burden of rabies cases. A global review that six investigators published in the Review of Science and Technology in August last year, indicated that the vast majority of human rabies infections came from domesticated dogs.

Human vaccination is also available as a prophylaxis (preventive action). It is highly effective in preventing rabies-caused encephalomyelitis in bitten patients. However, it is still an imperfect approach. M.J. Warrell had reported deaths due to failed human vaccination. His report came out August last year in the Review of Science and Technology. Moreover, the intramuscular route in human vaccination had been noted wasteful, including the low-cost intradermal approach, and is not universally trusted. It is also generally expensive.

This boils down to the best approach in eradicating the rabies threat in the country: mass vaccination of dog pets and stray dogs. Therefore, it is necessary for dog owners to have their pet dogs and other animals vaccinated proactively with the local veterinary clinic. It is also necessary for local authorities to establish a dog-impounding program. Stray dogs are still visible in rural areas and in less-urbanized cities in the country. These stray dogs are a clear and present danger to our children, and even adults. Dog owners and local authorities should do something about these threats.

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