A Few Notes About Rabies (Do Not Eat Dogs, Rabid or Not)

      So, just a few days ago, there’s this news about people who got infected with rabies after killing and eating a rabid dog…

       Around ten years ago, I was inside a passenger jeepney and was on my way home from Intramuros when we (me and my fellow passengers) noticed something wasn’t right in the man seated on my immediate right: he had a bandaged right hand, he was sweating profusely and was moaning and groaning; he seemed having difficulty breathing and in a hell lot of pain. His wife (who was seated in front of him) grimly explained (while the jeepney was unloading passengers in front of Manila City Hall) that he was bitten by a dog a few days ago and that the dog exhibited signs of being infected (with rabies) before dying. They were on their way to San Lazaro Hospital ( a government hospital in Manila that specializes in rabies).

       I didn’t know at that time if it was accurate but I read or heard somewhere that a man severely infected with rabies would sometimes act like a mad dog, that is, bite and infect another person. And among the passengers at the time, me and the man seated in front of the jeepney whose back was turned to him were the most vulnerable once the man unleashed his rabid savagery. He could either bite the nape of the passenger in front of him or lunge at my arm—it would be like a scene straight out of a werewolf movie. That’s the only time that I wished I had a gun loaded with silver bullets.

      Not wanting to take any chances, I thought of alighting at Recto Avenue even though Tayuman street was my destination (San Lazaro hospital was at the middle of Recto and Tayuman) but I stayed on, only scooting a little farther away from the man when the passengers on my left disembarked.

      The husband and wife alighted at Quiricada Street, where the hospital was located, and I said a little prayer for them.

      It is summertime now, the time when the risk of getting rabies is very high, so be careful, vaccinate your pets (no, aquarium fish shouldn’t be vaccinated) and don’t let them roam the streets. Avoid stray dogs, wash your wound thoroughly and immediately go to a doctor when one bites you, moreso if the bite’s unprovoked. An unprovoked bite from any animals (dogs, cats, rats, etc) should immediately be looked into a by a doctor, especially if the animal’s behaving strangely and aggressively.

      Aside from dogs, another rabies virus-carrying animal that people should be extremely wary of are bats. Lots of bats are infected and most of the time, their bites (their teeth are small) go unnoticed, so avoid these flying vampires, and when bitten, rush to a doctor; never dilly-dally about it. If you see a bat inside your house, immediately shoo it away or kill it (if it’s aggressive) and then check for bite wounds. Bats, if not infected, would not wander inside a house with people. And no, a bite from a bat will not turn you into Batman. 

      Rabies is almost always fatal and death from it is a very painful one, avoid it all cost. And do not eat dogs, whether they're rabid or not. They're man's best friend. You do not betray and eat your friend, you take care of them.