NPN

Islamabad [Pakistan]: More than 1,000 people are being killed by dog ​​bites every year in Pakistan, according to a report by Pakistan's Dawn News on Sunday. Those affected include women, children, the elderly, and men. After contracting this deadly disease, people bark and behave like dogs... and ultimately die a painful death. Which disease is causing the death of more than 1,000 Pakistanis? Mohammad Irfan Habib, medical director of the Childlife Foundation, told Dawn that rabies is a serious tragedy in rural and low-income communities in Pakistan, where children are often bitten by stray dogs. Delayed or unmet treatment leads to these preventable deaths. Children are the most vulnerable. "This tragedy is particularly acute in rural and low-income areas of Pakistan, where children are often bitten by stray dogs while playing or on their way to school. Delayed or untreated treatment leads to fatalities. Rabies is 100% preventable if the right steps are taken promptly. It is then not fatal. Parents must be vigilant. "Every parent and caregiver should know these life-saving steps," Dr. Habib told Dawn. "Furthermore, Dr. Habib told Dawn, "Every parent and caregiver should know these life-saving steps: Wash the dog bite wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, seek emergency medical attention immediately, and complete vaccination. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease that affects the central nervous system. Dogs are the source of the virus in approximately 99% of human rabies cases. The disease is most common in children aged 5 to 14." Rabies can also spread this way. The WHO states that rabies is transmitted through saliva between infected people and animals, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with objects such as the eyes, mouth, or open wounds. Once rabies develops, i.e., when symptoms appear, it is 100% fatal. According to the WHO, the incubation period for rabies is typically 2-3 months, but it can range from one week to one year, depending on factors such as the site of entry and viral load. What are the symptoms of rabies? Early symptoms of rabies include fever, pain, and unusual or unfamiliar tingling, prickling, or burning sensations around the wound. As the virus reaches the central nervous system, rapid and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord occurs. The WHO states that the global cost of rabies is approximately US$8.6 billion annually, including lost lives and livelihoods, medical care and related costs, as well as immeasurable mental suffering.