CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recorded a total of 10 human deaths due to rabies in Central Luzon for first half of 2013.
"From the figure, Bulacan had the most at six followed by Tarlac with two and Nueva Ecija and Pampanga with one each," Regional Rabies Coordinator Dr. Milagros Mananggit said.
Managgit further said that they are continually holding information and education campaigns to lower down rabies cases such as distribution of tarpaulins, posters, and brochures, and conduct of seminars.
Rabies is a virus transferred to humans from animals, usually dogs and cats, through close contact with the infected saliva of the animal through bites and scratches.
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 95 percent of human deaths caused by the rabies virus occur in countries in Asia and Africa where almost half of those bitten by suspected rabid animals are children under 15 years of age.
The virus may cause a disease in the brain that can ultimately lead to the death of the infected person.
Its early symptoms include fever, headache and general weakness or discomfort. It lists the early symptoms of rabies as 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 or increase in production of saliva, difficulty in swallowing and hydrophobia or the fear of water. Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms. (PR)