Rabies Fears Grow As Summer Heats Up

[george]

Rabies fears grow as summer heats up

PATTAYA: -- The public is afraid that a summer hotter than in previous years will increase the number of rabies cases, and Pattaya City administration has issued a warning about epidemics.

Pattaya’s Environment and Health Department is urging the public to take precautions with their pets over rabies as summer begins, saying that animals such as dogs, cats, monkeys and squirrels can become infected. Rabies can be passed to humans from bites, scratches, licking and the body fluids of infected animals, the infection being passed through saliva or seminal fluid.

Stray dogs in the community are a worry to the public during summer time.

Rabies symptoms in humans begin with a feverishness, stiffness, itching, and pain at the bite wound. This is followed by delirium, extreme sensitivity to light and noise, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and paralysis. If untreated, death occurs within seven days of the symptoms first appearing.

Pattaya authorities advise immediate treatment for animal bites, setting out a number of distinct steps to follow: 1. Wash the wound with soap and water many times. 2. Clean again with iodine and alcohol. 3. If the wound is large and bleeding, let it bleed for a while to wash out the saliva, which may be toxic. 4. If the animal is traceable, it should be detained for at least 10 days. 5. If the animal dies, the head should be cut off and taken in for examination. 6. Immediately see a doctor for treatment. 7. A wound should only be cleaned, without stitching, so that infection can be expelled. 8. Closely follow the doctor’s orders for taking medication.

If the wound is found to be not healing properly, the bite victim experiencing severe pain, numbness or itching at the wound site, or a fever, a doctor should be immediately consulted.

In their attempts to control rabies in the Pattaya area and Koh Larn, Pattaya City authorities are continually checking the number of domestic animals. Services such as vaccinations, purging of tapeworms, and sterilising of dogs and cats are carried out. However, there are fears over animals that live outside of residents’ homes. The town has many stray dogs, for example, which live around the temples and amongst the local community.

This year is also hotter than others. Dogs and pets can be easily irritated, which may be dangerous for the public, especially anyone unaware of the facts, such as children.

--Pattaya Mail 2005-04-29

[PeaceBlondie]

About two hours ago, walking the beach at a proper distance from the houses, I was attacked and bitten by a house dog, a well groomed boxer with a muzzle. His incisors (or 'canine' teeth) made two incisions, which drew blood - not much. I chased the dog to its home, a rather palatial mansion on the seaside. The household staff (hhstaff) couldn't have been nicer, since they didn't understand that in English, I was telling them that their master was a bad Buddhist and a bad Thai. They understood my hand motions about shooting the ***** dog to death, though. A housekeeper that I'll call Kuhn Namjai offered to take me to hospital, but I wasn't sure she meant it, so I headed back to my beach bungalow. After five minutes, she caught up with me, and took me to Red Cross first aid. There, the nurse cleansed the wound repeatedly, dressed it, and gave me three shots for rabies and tetanus (in my shoulders, which is better than the stomach). 1,888 baht, paid in full by Kuhn Namjai, who even offered to pay for my pain and suffering. I said, "No, just kill that dog!"

So, aside from keeping the wound dry and having it dressed at the Red Cross every day (and Khun Namjai insists on escorting me each time), and the excellent advice in the OP here, is there anything else for me to do or worry about?

Kill the dogs; kill them all.

[Nignoy]

About two hours ago, walking the beach at a proper distance from the houses, I was attacked and bitten by a house dog, a well groomed boxer with a muzzle.  His incisors (or 'canine' teeth) made two incisions, which drew blood - not much.  I chased the dog to its home, a rather palatial mansion on the seaside.  The household staff (hhstaff) couldn't have been nicer, since they didn't understand that in English, I was telling them that their master was a bad Buddhist and a bad Thai.  They understood my hand motions about shooting the ***** dog to death, though.  A housekeeper that I'll call Kuhn Namjai offered to take me to hospital, but I wasn't sure she meant it, so I headed back to my beach bungalow.  After five minutes, she caught up with me, and took me to Red Cross first aid.  There, the nurse cleansed the wound repeatedly, dressed it, and gave me three shots for rabies and tetanus (in my shoulders, which is better than the stomach).  1,888 baht, paid in full by Kuhn Namjai, who even offered to pay for my pain and suffering.  I said, "No, just kill that dog!"

So, aside from keeping the wound dry and having it dressed at the Red Cross every day (and Khun Namjai insists on escorting me each time), and the excellent advice in the OP here, is there anything else for me to do or worry about?

Kill the dogs; kill them all.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is this a windup , is there a troll hidden somewhere, if you have been given rabies anti serum, it is a course of injections ,and what type of serum was it ??the old wives tale about rabies injections in the stomache , they were stopped in europe 35 years ago and in africa and asia since 1975, until my retirement anti rabies injections were an annual requirement ,even the last 4 years in australia, and there have never been any registered rabies infections here, there is no known cure for rabies infection, even the precautionary anti rabies jabs are no guarantees, while working for a trade zoo in germany we had 2 keepers die after being bitten by rabid animals in one of our quarantine stations,also a game park in southern germany was closed down ,after a Wisente Bull went beserk after being bitten by a rabid fox. make sure the dog is put down and its head sent away for testing , it only takes 12 hours to confirm , bad news for the dog if it was just having a bad hair day!! best of luck nignoy

[Tywais]

Post-exposure Prophylaxis: Any wild animal that bites a person should be killed immediately, and the brain sent for diagnostic evaluation. Even though the animal may not appear ill, it should be noted that some of these animals that are infected could shed the virus for up to 2 weeks before they even show that they are ill with the rabies virus. According to Auerbach, unvaccinated dogs and cats that are bitten by a rabid animal should be destroyed immediately. If the owner refuses to have this done, the unvaccinated animal “should be kept in strict isolation for 6 months, and vaccinated one month before being released.”

A good history should be obtained:

1. Whether the bite was provoked or unprovoked.

2. Bites to the face and hands carry the highest risk.

3. A fully vaccinated dog or cat is unlikely to become infected with rabies, although some rare cases have been reported, especially when they only got a single dose and did not have the complete regimen.

The CDC recommends that a healthy dog, cat or ferret that bites a person should be confined and observed for 10 days.

In the United States, post-exposure prophylaxis consists of the following: One dose of HRIG (Human Rabies Immune Globulin), and then 5 doses of the rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. The first dose, the HRIG, should be given as soon as possible after exposure, preferably within 24-hours. It should be important to note that the CDC recommends that as much as possible the full-dose be infiltrated around the wound. HRIG should never be administered in the same syringe or into the same anatomical site as the vaccine. They also recommend that post-exposure prophylaxis be followed exactly how the guidelines are stated. After your initial dose of HRIG, the 5 doses of vaccine should be given on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28, and it is 1 ml. dose per vaccine. Again, as stated previously, it should not be given in the same syringe or in the same site where the HRIG was given. They also recommend that it not be given in the gluteal region, since the vaccine might be deposited in fat and poorly absorbed. They recommend the deltoid muscle.

For further information on rabies treatment, Survive Outdoors strongly recommends that you visit www.cdc.gov.

[PeaceBlondie]

No, it was not a windup.

They apparently don't put dogs down, here in Buddhist Thailand. I called my landlady, who's another rich Thai, and she said they don't kill the dog, but may send it to some shelter to see if it dies within ten days. And when the vicious dog is a repeat offender, supposedly they have some shelter that retrains or retains the dog. I don't believe it.

I was given two shots, in the shoulders, which the Red Cross nurse said was against rabies. Don't know the exact name. Yes, I'm scheduled for the entire series, over a period of about two months.

I only mentioned the 'shots in the stomach' because I'd never been involved in this, having lived almost always in countries where stray dogs and well-groomed dogs of rich locals were properly controlled. The post from "Survive Outdoors" appears to apply to developed countries where the rule of law is actually applied.

Nignoy, are you saying the jabs are worthless? I'm also on tetracycline and tetanus shot.

[bina]

tetratcy is for the bite wounds.... dog bite wounds are unfortunately slow to heal and often can develop secondary problems (fungus etc) so keep clean, follow all instructions and at slightest sign of non improvement go back for new treatment (possible iv drip with antibiotics )... VERY VERY IMPORTANT... BETTER TO BE HYSTERICAL THAN JAI YEN WHEN IT COMES TO BITE WOUNDS ESPECIALLY FROM CARNIVORES WITH FANG INCISORS!!!!

there is no cure for rabies; the instructions in the cdc printout are just for any animal bite whether rodent ruminant or carnivore....

ruminants can carry unsymptomatic rabies for months (we had a case in jerusalem zoo last year from rabid fox bit a 'dishon ' (a kind of antelope ) so the whole zoo went in to quarantine and vaccination programs...

we have rampant rabies in israel with jackals foxes and feral dogs as carriers:

for bite wounds:

wash for 15 or more minutes with running water letting blood run to clean wound

use liquid polydine(iodine ) (the amount is : water is colour of tea) in water to soak bitten area

no stitches/glueing together since most bites leave a large wound inside the flesh but

a small hole externally and there is a danger of aenaerobic bacteria developing

get good medical help

rabies vaccine to animals can cover the animal for about two years but in rabies areas once a year is required (even my goats /sheep /donkeys get their shots evey december)

for vet workers etc shot preventative is mandatory (i still ahvent done it since petting zoos arent covered by insurance for rabies vaccines only vets and large zoos)

i was attacked and bitten three times by an irate female rock hyrax with babies (with large frontal incisors) and did all of above but still ahve scars in my legs (also i didnt want to injure her so stood on her head until partner came to put her back in her cage (thank god for double security doors in cages -- 15 yrs ago)

any signs of fever, discomfort, swelling, loss of feeling flu symptoms etc, go back immediately; as in snake bites, the area could become septic very easily....

i understand that thailand is actually very good about dealing with rabies/bites with rabies clinics etc ; here in israel the hospitals dont always know what to do or what the procedure is so time is lost in beauracracy, getting reports from 'beit dagen' the official gov't vet lab, etc...

good luck....

bina

[sbk]

The two shots were most likely a rabies shot and a tetanus shot.

I was bitten by my own dog about 6 years ago -- I stupidly stuck my hand into the middle of a dog fight--I'm sure my dog thought she had a really good grip on the other dog, too bad it was my hand! I still have the scars

Anyway, even tho I was sure it was my own dog and she had had her rabies vaccination the nurse suggested I start the course and if my dog showed no sign of illness do only the series of 3 rather than series of 5. Like she said, no vaccination is 100% sure. So, I got the series of 3, my dog never got ill, so I didn't do the full course. I would suggest that you do the full 5 and make sure the owners of the dog pay for the entire course. Tell the Clinic you went to to be sure and send them the bill.

[Nignoy]

No, it was not a windup. 

They apparently don't put dogs down, here in Buddhist Thailand.  I called my landlady, who's another rich Thai, and she said they don't kill the dog, but may send it to some shelter to see if it dies within ten days.  And when the vicious dog is a repeat offender, supposedly they have some shelter that retrains or retains the dog.  I don't believe it.

I was given two shots, in the shoulders, which the Red Cross nurse said was against rabies.  Don't know the exact name.  Yes, I'm scheduled for the entire series, over a period of about two months. 

I only mentioned the 'shots in the stomach' because I'd never been involved in this, having lived almost always in countries where stray dogs and well-groomed dogs of rich locals were properly controlled.  The post from "Survive Outdoors" appears to apply to developed countries where the rule of law is actually applied.

Nignoy, are you saying the jabs are worthless?  I'm also on tetracycline and tetanus shot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry to give you the wrong idea , of course the jabs help,its just there are so many old wives tales about rabies, in germany and switzerland ,Rabies is Quite common, domestic cats and dogs get shot if caught more than 50 metres from the nearest residence in areas where rabies warnings are published there is a strict dogs on leads rule in force in these areas. nignoy

[PeaceBlondie]

Thanks for the responses. I had the second series today; it's TRC-ID Regimen:222011. It's also ERIC 40 IU/kg. The owner's servant already paid for the entire series. I think I'll take the third set of dosages on day 7. Then, before day 30 and day 90 come along for the full series, I'll check to see that the dog is still alive.

Seriously, do Thai Buddhists ever kill their pets? Do they consider an animal's life as valuable as a human life? I like good pets, but I think rabid animals should be shot on sight, no questions asked.

[Pattaya_Fox]

Thanks for the responses.  I had the second series today; it's TRC-ID Regimen:222011.  It's also ERIC 40 IU/kg.  The owner's servant already paid for the entire series.  I think I'll take the third set of dosages on day 7.  Then, before day 30 and day 90 come along for the full series, I'll check to see that the dog is still alive. 

Seriously, do Thai Buddhists ever kill their pets?  Do they consider an animal's life as valuable as a human life?  I like good pets, but I think rabid animals should be shot on sight, no questions asked.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am sure that owners who have a rabid animal as a pet whether the owners are buddihists or otherwise would not risk their lives or their friends and families lives and it would be destroyed.. Just common sense and religion should not come into it.