World Rabies Day

Children whose parents keep pets such as dogs and cats sometimes fall in love with these pets to such an extent that disposing of them becomes a problem. Owners of pets usually give interesting names to them depending on their keepers moods and situations they find themselves. Though man's best and faithful friend, dogs transmit rabies to humans with children being the most affected. Rabies is a fatal disease of warm blooded beasts, transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Ninety-nine percent of rabies cases result from the bite of an infected dog, though cats, bats and other mammals are carriers.

Rabies is said to be a neglected disease of poor and vulnerable populations whose deaths are rarely reported. It occurs mainly in remote rural communities where measures to prevent dog to human transmission have not been implemented. Under reporting of rabies also prevents mobilisation of resources from the international community for the elimination of human dog- mediated rabies. The facts are that rabies occurs in more than 150 countries with more than 55,000 deaths every year mostly in Africa and Asia. It is amazing that 40 percent of all people bitten by suspected rabid animals are children under 15 years of age with dogs being the source of the majority of human rabies deaths. But the good news is that rabies can be prevented by keeping our animals vaccinated against it.

Sadly, rabies cannot be treated once the symptoms appear. There are however four simple steps of preventing rabies. The first is to avoid being bitten by an animal, and if bitten, the wound should be immediately washed with running water and soap for 15 minutes and then apply hydrogen peroxide or spirit. The victim should not be given Kola nuts to chew and swallow liquid while the chewed kola is applied on the wound. Instead of trying to catch the dog, it must be reported to the nearest veterinary office or clinic. In the case of children they must report to their parents, teachers or friends that they have been bitten by a dog.

Dogs can be our best friends, but sometimes when they are angry or scared, they bite. So, one must not disturb or frighten dogs, particularly when they are eating or playing with their puppies, toys, tied up, asleep or ill. When dogs are angry they show their teeth, so all of us, especially children, should keep away from dogs. Dogs drop their tails in between their legs when they are scared; and will try to run way. Dogs should be approached slowly and quietly and if you want to touch a dog, the owner or guardians permission must be sought before touching it. Allow the dog to sniff your hand before you gently stroke it starting from the back.

Although all age groups are susceptible, rabies is most common among children under 15. Since rabies is a vaccine- preventable disease, the most cost effective srategy for its prevention in people is by eliminating it in dogs through vaccination. The recent upsurge in human rabies deaths in parts of Africa and Asia suggests that rabies is re-emerging as a serious public health issue. Therefore preventing human rabies through control of domestic dog rabies is a realistic goal for large parts of Africa and Asia and is justified by the future savings of discontinuing post exposure prophylaxis for people.

We must commend Rabies in West Africa, a local organisation in Ghana, for creating a network of rabies control in Ghana and lobbying policy makers for the elimination of rabies in the country. We must create events and activities for the awareness of rabies to the public and initiate public vaccination for dogs.

Remember that rabies kills. So, by vaccinating your dog annually, you dont only protect yourself, but your pets life too.

BY ASSIBU BANGUN-EKELLAH, A JOURNALIST.

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