March has been declared Rabies Awareness Month, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9482 signed on May 25, 2007, to build public awareness on the prevention and control of rabies through education and vaccination.

Rabies is a deadly disease of animals caused by a virus which is transmissible to human beings through the bites of infected animals, through contact of the saliva with an opening or wound in the skin, causing acute inflammation of the brain and the spinal cord. It can also be transmitted through aerosol transmission, faulty vaccines, and tissue and organ transplants.

Watch out for rabies symptoms in animals which might carry the virus. A wild animal that displays little fear of humans may be rabid and if the animal is noctural but seen being active in daylight. For home pets, one has not been updated with rabies shot, and shows signs from sudden mood changes, drooling and/or going into hiding.

In most cases, especially in rural areas, it is the animal which is observed and not the human being.

That should be changed because rabies is deadly not only to animals but also to human beings. Once the symptoms of rabies develop, the disease is fatal. The first signs and symptoms of the virus include flu-like fever, headache, fatigue, feeling thirsty, and terrified at the sight of water. As rabies progresses, the following symptoms can be felt: tingling or numbness at the bite, anxiety, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, insomnia, and neurological deficits. This means that the nerves and the brain are already being affected.

Rabies infection is surely a cause of death which can occur in the first seven days of illness. So it is important that before the disease develops, immediate and proper treatment by a medical professional must be sought. First aid treatments like letting the wound bleed for a while, washing the affected area with soap and water, and applying alcohol or tincture of iodine, can be applied.

Children and the mentally incapacitated are at higher risk of dog rabies because they often play with animals and are less likely to report bites or scratches. They should not be allowed to get into contact with wild animals and stray pets. Anti-rabies vaccination is also critical. Home pets must receive rabies vaccination, health management, proper care, and shelter.

As with many diseases, prevention is still the best medicine. Contact a medical professional immediately if you think that you may have been exposed to rabies. Do not wait for the signs because it might be too late.

Let us do our share in eliminating this serious risk to public health and safety and in achieving a rabies-free Philippines by 2020.