REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA—Case rabies lately it has increased because people have a lot of activities outside the home and have the potential to be bitten by dogs. This case can even cause death for people exposed to rabies. Then how to prevent rabies?
PT Kalventis Sinergi Farma Travel-Endemic Vaccines Franchise Manager, Dhimas Sagietha Hariandhana said that when the rabies virus enters the human central nervous system, it causes death. But it can be prevented by giving the vaccine directly after being bitten by a rabid animal. Symptoms can appear several weeks after being bitten by the animal, depending on the bite.
“The most dangerous location is being bitten around the neck or head, because it will directly hit the central nervous system,” Dhimas explained in a press release received Republika.co.id, Thursday (29/6/2023).
He said a bite with rabies carries a risk of death, but it can be overcome by vaccination, which is not only for animals. Humans also need to be vaccinated to awaken the immune system, so they can overcome the rabies virus. “Rabies vaccines can be obtained at health facilities,” he said.
Dimas stressed rabies vaccine can be obtained at health centers, hospitals, or at Hospitals for Infectious Diseases such as RSPI Sulianti Saroso Jakarta. Also in rabies centers spread across Indonesia, such as in RSUD dr. TC Hillers Maumere. There, stocks of rabies vaccine are available, but availability needs to be checked again.
Procedure for administering the vaccine
Dr. Asep Purnama, SpPD-FINASIM from RSUD dr.TC Hillers Maumere gave prevention tips, namely pre-exposure and post-exposure. Pre-exposure is receiving the rabies vaccine before being bitten by an animal with rabies. Meanwhile, post-exposure prevention, vaccination is carried out after being bitten by a rabies-transmitting animal.
Then, the parties most at risk of being exposed to rabies are the dog vaccinators and the officers butchering the dogs to examine their brain samples. Children also need to be vaccinated against rabies, because low body posture allows dogs to jump up to children’s necks or heads.
“If a stray dog bites a child, they don’t run fast to avoid it, the children also can’t fight back,” he said.
So a pre-exposure vaccination should be given on day 0, day 7, and day 21. If at any time you are bitten by a dog and have not received the pre-exposure vaccine, you must be vaccinated immediately on day 0 of 2 injections, followed by 1 injection on days 7 and 21. Four injections are required and this will certainly cause huge costs.
“The function of the pre-exposure rabies vaccine is not only to save costs, but also to anticipate risks if vaccine stock is not available,” said Dr. Asep.
2023-06-29 09:08:51
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