Be careful of bites and scratches

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus. It is transmitted to humans from an infected animal through bites and scratches. The virus attacks the nervous system and is fatal once symptoms develop.
It is a virus that attacks the nervous system and is fatal once symptoms develop, is passed to humans through bites and scratches from infected animal.

Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease that causes progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Clinically, it has two forms:

Furious rabies- characterized by hyperactivity and hallucinations. Paralytic rabies- characterized by paralysis and coma.

Although fatal once clinical signs appear, rabies is entirely avoidable; vaccines, medicines and technologies have long been available to prevent death from rabies. Nevertheless, rabies still kills tens of thousands of people each year. Of these cases, approximately 99% are acquired from the bite of an infected dog.

-Rabid animal bites or scratches. -Virus infects CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM -Brain becoms inflamed. -Virus travels into nerves multiplies in other organs.

Whether scratch or bite as soon as the protective barrier of the skin is compromised, the biting/scratching animals' body fluid (saliva, blood, urine) may have probably entered your body.
And when that happens, you are in danger of being infected with the rabies virus.
The rabies virus, upon gaining entry to the body seeks the peripheral nerves replicating in the process going up the spinal cord eventually reaching the brain.

Ano ang dapat gawin kung nadilaan sa sugat, nakalmot, nakagat, o natalsikan ng laway / ihi / dugo ng aso o pusa?

The following should be taught to all the members of your household, especially the children:

1. Immediately wash the area vigorously with soap and water for more than 10 minutes, under running water. The goal is to wash off as much of the animal body fluid as possible, usually saliva, which acts as vehicle for the virus.

2. Do not cover (unless bleeding profusely, then you have to stop the bleeding first).

3. Apply Povidone-Iodine or Alcohol onto the scratch or bite area.

4. Go to the nearest Animal Bite Clinic to get vaccinated. Huwag maniwala sa tawak, tandok, albularyo, magnet, etc. Iwasan din ang paggamit ng bawang, nakakasunog ito ng balat. Hindi kayang puksain ng mga ganitong pamamaraan ang rabies virus na nakapasok sa katawan ng tao.

Huwag balewalain. Nakamamatay ang rabis!

Myths about rabies and its treatment prevent people seeking proper medical care, and many of them still believe that Post Exposure Prophylaxis consist of a series of very painful
injections in the abdomen.

The belief that witchdoctors, herbal extracts, gems and stones, a change in diet or religious practices can prevent rabies stops people seeking effective treatment
and even they believe that one vaccination dose is sufficient or the dietary or other activities can reduce vaccine effectiveness.

Rabies is a highly fatal viral disease of the central nervous
system and it is caused by Lyassavirus family type. It is primarily a zoonotic disease of warm-blooded animals e.g. dogs, cats, jackals and wolves mainly.

It is prevalent in more than 150
countries and territories. 99 percent of human infection is caused by rabies in dogs and it poses a potential threat to more than 3.3 billion people which shows its high prevalence.1According to a report by WHO, worldwide human deaths from endemic canine rabies were estimated to be 55000 in a year and in India, it is estimated that, around 20,565 to 30,000 persons die due to rabies, with incidence of 1.7 per 100,000 population2.

The annual animal bite load is estimated to be 17.4 million (1.7%) and among them, around 46.9% takes antirabies vaccination as post-exposure prophylaxis. India is very diverse country, especially for its social and cultural background.

People’s belief and practices vary by states and even districts. There is a wide range of myths and misconceptions related to different diseases/illnesses and people have great faith in it even though efficacy is unproven.

These types of socio-cultural factors and influences are in practice for centuries and many attempts have been made to change these factors responsible for misbeliefs but it often failed due to the defiant community perception.

One such belief is based on prevailing myths and misconceptions. Multiple myths are associated with the disease and they determine the post-exposure treatment seeking behavior of animal bite victims.

The rabies virus infects the body’s central nervous system, causing brain disease and death1. Early signs of rabies infection may seem like general illness, such as fever, headache and general weakness or discomfort. Shortly thereafter, however, more specific and recognizable symptoms begin to emerge1. Insomnia, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, hyper salivation, difficulty swallowing, agitation and hydrophobia are among the most common symptoms1.

Within days of these symptoms appearing, death is likely to occur. Despite the thorough knowledge we currently possess about the virus, there is a vast amount of misinformation that has spread throughout communities. It is the goal of this post to quickly clarify some of these misconceptions in order to ensure the safety of you, your family, and your pets.

"Sa totoo lang po,nakakahiya ang nilagay namin, nilagyan po namin ng suka at bawang"

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, or licked skin with open wound, just wash and soap thoroughly in running water for 10 minutes or more. Do not rub in garlic or vinegar. It may be treated with alcohol or povidone-iodine. If none of it is OK, just wash well and get vaccinated at a doh-certified animal bite center.

Hindi Bawang O Suka Ang Gamot Sa Kagat Ng Aso, Sabi Ng DOH

There is an ancient belief that when bitten by a dog, the wound should be rubbed with garlic or vinegar. But this is wrong, according to the Department of Health (DOH), because there is a proper way as to cure dog bites.

The DOH warns, through their National Rabies Prevention and Control Program, that garlic or vinegar, as well as other methods without a medical basis, can cause wound contamination. The answer to what to do when bitten by a dog is to wash the wound immediately with soap and water for 10 minutes.

Tips to avoid dog bites

Dogs show their fear by biting or as self -protection, according to the Rabies Alliance. So it is necessary to understand and consider a few things to avoid being bitten by a dog:

• The feeling of dogs

• How to Approach a Dog

• When you can and cannot approach or interact with dogs>/p>

These appearances or behaviors of the dog should be monitored:

• Alert body and tail

• The ear is folded

• Stepping away

• Barking

When you notice the signs, here are the things you should do:

• Stay standing

• Don't move

• Place the hands on the side of the body

Here are the things not to do:

• Run away from the dog

• Shouting

• Stare at the dog

But once a dog has bitten you, here are the things you should do:

• Do not pull the bitten part of the body away from the dog

• Don't move

• In case you fall or stumble, bend like a ball and fold your arms and legs as if hidden
  
  
  

Responsibilities of owners

Being the owner of a dog is a big responsibility. When you buy or are given a dog there are a lot of things you need to do to look after it properly. You should ensure that it is well nourished, vaccinated, groomed, healthy and properly exercised and socialised.

A well cared for dog can provide great enjoyment, companionship and pleasure. It is important to remember however, that as a dog owner you have responsibilities towards the other members of the community.

The Companion Animals Act sets out some of these requirements and gives Council Rangers the power to assist and where necessary enforce the law to ensure that owners meet their responsibilities. You are responsible for ensuring that your dog does not harm or threaten any other person or animal.

This means that you must be able to control your dog on your property and when you are in public with your dog you must always keep it on a leash. The owners of restricted breeds of dogs including American pit bull terriers have a range of more stringent responsibilities in NSW. As do the owners of dogs that have been declared dangerous or menacing for attacking other animals or people.

As an owner of a dog you must also make sure that your animal is not causing a nuisance whether by consistently barking, straying or interfering with other peoples property. Dog owners are of course always required to promptly dispose of any feces which their dog may leave anywhere other than on their own property.

Finally you must ensure that your dog is permanently identified by a microchip and properly registered. Dogs must wear a collar with a tag which shows the name of the dog and the address or telephone number as a minimum of the owner of the dog. The responsibilities of owning a dog are well balanced by the rewards of the companionship that a dog can bring.

The Companion Animals Act and associated legislation aims to assist dogs and their owners to co-exist with other members of the community. By understanding these responsibilities you can help maximise the benefits of companion animal ownership for your dog, your neighbors and your community.

Many pet owners ask themselves if they should vaccinate their dogs or cats in the first place. Vaccinations help protect pets against disease, and without regular vaccinations, your pet could not only contract a deadly disease, but pass them on to other pets as well. If you don’t vaccinate your pet, you may end up spending hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, for treatments if your pet contracts a disease.

Responsible Pet Ownership includes vaccinating your pets to protect from Rabies infection. Not only do you save your beloved pet from the deadly virus, you also protect the household, and help prevent rabies spread to the community. The anti-rabies vaccine for pets do not cost that much. You may inquire at your community veterinary clinic. The local government unit agriculture office from time to time also provide free vaccination to cats and dog



Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people, and human rabies vaccines exist for pre-exposure immunization.
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, particularly a dog:

• Wash the wound immediately with soap or detergent.

• Flush the wound thoroughly for about 15 minutes with copious amounts of water.

• Apply an iodine-containing or anti-viral medication to the wound 15 minutes after it has been washed and flushed.

• Avoid applying irritants to the wounds such as chili powder, plant juices, acids and alkalis.

• Avoid covering the wound with dressings or bandages.

• Seek transportation to a health care facility for further assessment and treatment by a healthcare professional.

If possible, safely confine the biting animal and collect information on it and the bite circumstance to provide to the health care professional and public health officer. Keep the biting animal confined and under observation for 10 days. WHO continues to promote human rabies prevention through the elimination of rabies in dogs, dog bite prevention strategies, and more widespread use of the intradermal route for post-exposure prophylaxis, which reduces volume and therefore the cost of cell-cultured vaccine by 60% to 80%.

Myths:

-Rabies is not preventable
-There is no treatment for rabies
-Rabies is only transmitted by dog bites

Facts:

-Rabies is preventable
-There is treatment for rabies, but it must be given correctly and immediately after exposure to an infected animal.

See References:

Oberon Council- https://www.oberon.nsw.gov.au/what-are-my-responsibilities-dog-owner

Smartparenting- https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/health/your-health/gamot-sa-kagat-ng-aso-a00370-20211126

Unicare- https://unicare-clinic.com/myths-rabies/

WHO- https://www.who.int/health-topics/rabies#tab=tab_1