Calbayog health office alarmed over boy’s death due to rabies

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Jan. 22 (PNA) – The city health office is stepping up its rabies awareness drive following the death of a five-year old boy from Begaho village after contracting the deadly virus.

City health officer Sylvia De Guzman said they conducted massive anti-rabies awareness drive in different villages for them to be informed on the dangers of rabies virus and how this could be prevented.

“The city veterinary office has been conducting dog vaccination, but it is not an assurance that the city is rabies free because not all dogs were vaccinated especially those newly born puppies that are potential virus carrier. That is why we must take all the necessary care and precautionary measures against the deadly rabies,” De Guzman said.

On Jan. 16, a five year-old-boy died after one day confinement at the Calbayog District Hospital after suffering rabies symptoms like fever, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, restlessness.

After few hours, the victim also manifested other symptoms such as aerophobia, irritability, drooling of saliva, convulsion and coma.

De Guzman said that based on their interview with the victim’s family, the child had an open wound when he played with their unvaccinated dog two months ago. The dog died a week after the said incident.

The city health officer believed that pet transmitted the virus through the open wound. The family did not mind bringing the child to the health center for anti-rabies vaccination.

The city health office immediately administered anti-rabies vaccine to the victim’s family who had immediate contact with the victims as precautionary measures.

The official appealed to the public that in case of dog bite or dog saliva exposure, anti-rabies vaccine should be administered immediately.

The months of March and April were identified as dog immunization month for the city veterinary office wherein they visit every village for dog vaccination.

But despite massive dog vaccination conducted by the city veterinary office it is not yet guaranteed that the city is rabies free, according to De Guzman.

The city health office recorded two human rabies cases for the past two years in the villages of Navarro and Carayman. (PNA)

RMA/SQM/JENNIFER SUMAGANG–ALLEGADO