Rabies kills 16 in Shandong

[Guest guest]

Rabies kills 16 in Shandong

(Shanghai Daily)

Updated: 2006-08-04

 

Sixteen people have died of rabies over the past eight

months after a rash of dog attacks in Jining City,

east China's Shandong Province, the local government

said Thursday.

 

The disease was reported at 16 villages across the

municipality, where more than 500,000 dogs live as

pets or guard dogs.

 

The local epidemic prevention authority has announced

it will kill dogs within five kilometers of each

affected village.

 

Dogs in other parts will receive vaccinations against

the disease.

 

Epidemic prevention officials said the local

government had received constant reports this year of

attacks by " mad dogs " , and the number of

rabies-infected patients had increased sharply.

 

They warned rabid dogs could infect people by biting

and scratching.

 

The latent period of the disease ranges from a few

days to 20 years, and there was no effective

treatment, they said.

 

Patients rarely survived once the disease developed,

but if they received the anti-rabies bacterin in time,

the likelihood of developing the disease would drop to

10 percent, the official added.

 

On Sunday, Mouding County in southwest China's Yunnan

Province reported the deaths of three people from

rabies. They died within ten days though they were

received treatment immediately after they were bitten.

 

 

Many dogs in the county have been killed to prevent

the disease spreading.

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-08/04/content_656832.htm

 

 

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.