10 Facts about Rabies: A Must-Know for Pet Owners & Pet Lovers
September 30, 2022
Pets are a household staple. For some, it’s impossible to imagine a world without furry creatures running around their home. Dogs and cats are often called “man’s best friend” but, more than that, they’re also family.
However, during playtime or temperamental moments, our pets snap. They may have aggressive tendencies and bite their owners. These bites, regardless of intention, should be a cause for concern—especially if pets aren’t fully vaccinated yet—because of one very common virus: rabies.
What exactly is rabies?
Rabies is a preventable viral zoonotic disease that spreads from the bite of an animal, transmitted through saliva. This virus affects the central nervous system and can lead to chills, seizures, and even death if not treated immediately.
10 facts.
It’s better to be safe than sorry. Here are ten (10) facts you should know about the rabies virus:
1. 59,000 people die every year from rabies, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
2. From the total cases of rabies, 99% of them are caused by dogs.
3. With around 200 to 300 deaths per year, the Philippines has one of the highest worldwide rabies mortality rate.
4. The most common animals known to transmit rabies are cats, dogs, horses, cows, bats, raccoons, monkeys, and goats.
5. For humans exposed to rabies, doctors give post-exposure prophylaxis via injection. This consists of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) to fight the virus.
6. Initial symptoms of the rabies virus include fatigue, headache, prickling/itching at the bite location, and persistent fever.
7. Some of the symptoms before death are delirium, partial paralysis, nausea/vomiting, hallucinations, insomnia, and difficulty swallowing. If you or a loved one experiences one of these symptoms, it’s best to seek help from a doctor immediately.
8. Petting your dog or getting licked at areas with no open wound do not put you at risk for infection.
9. A 15-year-old girl is the world’s first known survivor of rabies without receiving any treatment or vaccination against the virus.
10. Person-to-person rabies do not exist.
Plan ahead while you still can.
A health plan will help you in the long run should you get bitten by your own pet or someone else’s. Here at Paramount Direct, we have reimbursement-type health insurance products that could assist in your recovery in case you get hospitalized due to rabies.
Our Hospital Income Benefit Plan can cover individuals, couples or even families from ages 20 up to 64 years old. It provides cash benefits of up to PHP4,000/day for regular confinement, up to PHP8,000/day for dread disease confinement and up to PHP80,000 lump sum for lengthy confinement.
Be sure you’re always prepared for the unexpected. Secure your protection for yourself and your loved ones today.
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