In the face of deaths caused by dog bites; Vaccinating dogs the only option : Expert
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06, 2013:
Persons bitten by a rabies infected dog can be saved easily if the person is given proper first aid and hospitalised in time.
Former CMO of State Health Services, Dr Ksh Manglem, who is also a life member of Association of Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI), said that if anybody is bitten by a dog, tincture or betadine must be applied on the injured area after it is repeatedly washed with water and soap for around 15 minutes.
Then, the person must be hospitalised immediately for further treatment, he added.
Saying that there is a myth that opening the injured area with a blade or a knife and letting more blood ooze out would wash away the virus, Manglem said that opening or stitching of the bitten area must be avoided.
It would only help in passing the rabies virus to the blood streams of the person, he added.
He also added that rabies virus survives in the saliva of the infected dogs.
The virus is also sometimes present in the front claws of the dogs as they usually lick it.
Saying that blood testing can't detect rabies infection, Manglem added that the virus directly damage brain cells by passing through the blood vessels.
Saying that treatment given by maiba (local untrained physician) can't save a bitten person, Manglem suggested immediate consultation of a doctor or admitting the person at a nearest hospital.
He also appealed the general public to vaccinate their pet dogs with anti-rabies vaccines in time.
Once the dog is infected with rabies virus, nothing can save the dog, he added.
If anybody is bitten by a dog, apart from giving treatment to the person, the dog must be put under observation for ten days.
If the dog dies within ten days, the person must be administered anti-rabbies vaccine five times, he said and added the same vaccine must be administered three times if the dog survives.
Mentioning a myth of avoiding anti-rabbies vaccine if the dog does not die in ten days, Manglem said that if anybody is bitten by a dog, he/she must be administered with immunoglobulin vaccine in any condition.