Officials at Yangon General Hospital in Myanmar reported at least 18 human deaths due t rabies during the first eight months of the year, according to a Myanmar Times report today.
This total is only for those treated at the Yangon hospital and does not include numbers from other hospitals across the country.
A total of 5328 people who suffered dog bites were vaccinated at the emergency department of the hospital from January to July this year, according to the hospital. Most of the victims were from Dala township.
Medical superintendent of Yangon General Hospital, Dr Khin Theingi Myint warns,“If a person is infected with rabies, the chances of survival are slim, as there is no medicine to cure the virus. Anyone who is bitten by a dog should go to the nearest hospital within 24 hours to get vaccinated”.
Dr Khin Maung Lwin, a retired director of the Ministry of Health and Sports, said residents should allow city veterinary officials to vaccinate and treat stray dogs in order to minimize the spread of rabies.
Last year, the hospital treated and vaccinated 16,274 people for dog bites. Of those patients, 32 died from rabies.
