ILOILO – This province lacks anti-rabies vaccines, according to Provincial Health Office (PHO) chief Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado.
Two types of anti-rabies vaccines are being administered to persons bitten by rabid animals such as dogs – the active anti-rabies vaccine and the passive anti-rabies vaccine, said Trabado.
The active anti-rabies vaccine stimulates the body to produce anti-bodies to counteract the rabies virus.
This is what Iloilo does not have at the moment, said Trabado, mentioning the brand rabipur.
The passive anti-rabies vaccine, on the other hand, immediately protects the body from rabies; the body need not be stimulated to produce antibodies to counteract the rabies virus.
The provincial government and district hospitals have a few vials of this vaccine left, said Trabado, and mentioned the brand verorab.
“Ini nga passive vaccine, amo ini mismo ang anti-bodies. Immediately kon mahatag sa imo, may immediate protection ikaw kay patyon ‘ya mismo ang virus,” said Trabado.
The province’s verorab supply may not last a week, she revealed.
Last year, PHO recorded over 30,000 animal bite cases.
Due to the lack of anti-rabies vaccines, PHO urged the public to be wary of animal bites, particularly dog bites.
“This time, ang aton nga campaign is bawal magpakagat,” said Trabado.
She gave the following tips:
* cage the dog
* avoid close contact with dogs
* put dogs on leash
* vaccinate dogs against rabies
If one has been bitten, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water, then see a doctor, said Trabado.
The rabies virus primarily affects the central nervous system. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to those of many other infection — 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, salivation, difficulty in swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water).
Among Filipinos, dogs account for 98 percent of rabies infection, cats account for the remaining two percent, according to the Department of Health.
An infected dog can transmit the rabies virus even before it becomes ill, but it will invariably manifest signs and symptoms of rabies including change in behavior such as unprovoked aggressiveness and excitability, paralysis, and hydrophobia within five days, and die within two weeks, after it gets infected./PN
