By NewsDesk @bactiman63
A man from the city of Thatta in Sindh province, Pakistan died from rabies after a dog bite due to the local hospital not having rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
The victim was reportedly attacked by a rabid dog around a week ago and suffered deadly injuries on the head and torso.
Relative took him to the local civil hospital only to find anti-rabies vaccine was not available.
Doctors there recommended the family take him to a private hospital; however, they could not afford the cost of his treatment at a private hospital.
He died soon after.
According to the Daily Times report: In the wake of the incident, members of civil society lambasted the administration of Municipal committee Thatta over its failure to rid the town of rabid dogs despite court orders. They said the dog-bite cases were increasing across the district, but the authorities concerned were not taking measures against the ensuing agony. They also poured scorn on the MERF administration for failing to address the issues of dog bite victims. They have urged authorities concerned to take notice of this issue.
Rabies is an acute viral infection that is transmitted to humans or other mammals usually through the saliva from a bite of an infected animal. It is also rarely contracted through breaks in the skin or contact with mucous membranes.
What type of symptoms will it cause in humans?
Initially, like in many diseases, the symptoms are non-specific; fever, headache and malaise. This may last several days. At the site of the bite there may be some pain and discomfort. Symptoms then progress to more severe: confusion, delirium, abnormal behavior and hallucinations. If it gets this far, the disease is nearly 100% fatal.
According to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control:
Immediately after any exposure to the virus, medical attention should be sought. It is critical to remember that the bite wound must be cleaned with soap and water for 15 minutes, and anti-rabies vaccine will be needed and, often, anti-rabies immunoglobulins too. Once the clinical onset of rabies is evident, there is no cure available and death is inevitable. It is therefore extremely important to get prompt medical treatment.
Full PEP consists of thorough washing of the wound, followed by immunoglobulin injections (antibodies against the rabies virus) into the wound and a series of rabies vaccinations that are administered after an exposure occurs, to prevent disease progression. If the bite victim has never been immunized for rabies, they should always receive the vaccination and the immunoglobulin treatment. For victims who were vaccinated with a modern rabies vaccine prior to exposure, you will still need booster doses of vaccine. You will not need immunoglobulin injections.
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