DILI, 27 march 2024 (TATOLI) – The Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis has been administered to 29 people in Oe-Cusse. They receive the vaccines after being bitten by dogs.
The post-exposure prophylaxis in humans can effectively prevent death after exposure to a potentially infected animal, including dogs.
“When someone is bitten by an animal, especially a canine, they should wash the area that has been in contact with the animal’s saliva with betadine and go to the nearest health centre,” said the Director General of the National Institute of Public Health of Timor-Leste, Frederico Bosco, in an exclusive interview with Tatoli in Farol, Dili.
He pointed out that a rabies vaccination campaign has been underway since january in the municipalities of Dili, Bobonaro, Covalima and Oé-Cusse.
Bosco called on dog owners to go to the veterinary centers to have their animals vaccinated against rabies.
Vice-Minister for Institutional Strengthening in Health, José dos Reis Magno urged the population to put a piece, commonly known as a muzzle, on their dog’s snouts so that they can’t bite people.
Magno said the disease can cause death if not treated properly and early: “The incubation period for the disease is very variable and can be from days to several months or years, depending, for example, on the location, extent, and depth of the wound resulting from the bite, scratch or contact with the saliva of infected animals.
On march 22, a 19-year-old girl died at the Guido Valadares National Hospital, two months after being bitten by a dog.
Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. The rabies virus is usually transmitted through a bite.
Magno stressed that once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease nearly always causes death, saying therefore anyone who may have a risk of contracting rabies should receive rabies vaccinations for protection.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
