Randi
03-26-2002, 12:50 PM
This is news from Dominican Republic.
5. Stray dog vaccination program
Local health authorities expect to vaccinate up to 40,000 stray dogs and cats in the next few days. Homeless dogs and cats will be eliminated, as part of a major health prevention operation. The
campaign comes after a five-year old boy died following being bitten by a rabbies-infected pit bull dog in Guaymate, a small town located near a sugar field and 20 kilometers north of La Romana city.
He died two months after the bite in the Santo Domingo Robert Reid Cabral children's hospital where he was transferred from Guaymate. Physicians said he died because he did not receive adequate medical attention. His grandmother denied he had been bitten by the dog, and explained her grandson only received what she described as a scratch from the dog.
His symptoms showed up two months later. Doctors at the Robert Reid Children's Hospital said that his death would have been avoided if he had been vaccinated at the time. There had not been a death for rabies in the DR in six years.
Nelson Cunillera, director of the National Antirabies Center, said
the government decided to carry out a massive stray dog and cat
round up for vaccination after the death of the child to prevent
future cases. The program is underway in the eastern cities of Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Higuey and La Romana. He encouraged anyone who is bitten by an animal to promptly get medical attention.
5. Stray dog vaccination program
Local health authorities expect to vaccinate up to 40,000 stray dogs and cats in the next few days. Homeless dogs and cats will be eliminated, as part of a major health prevention operation. The
campaign comes after a five-year old boy died following being bitten by a rabbies-infected pit bull dog in Guaymate, a small town located near a sugar field and 20 kilometers north of La Romana city.
He died two months after the bite in the Santo Domingo Robert Reid Cabral children's hospital where he was transferred from Guaymate. Physicians said he died because he did not receive adequate medical attention. His grandmother denied he had been bitten by the dog, and explained her grandson only received what she described as a scratch from the dog.
His symptoms showed up two months later. Doctors at the Robert Reid Children's Hospital said that his death would have been avoided if he had been vaccinated at the time. There had not been a death for rabies in the DR in six years.
Nelson Cunillera, director of the National Antirabies Center, said
the government decided to carry out a massive stray dog and cat
round up for vaccination after the death of the child to prevent
future cases. The program is underway in the eastern cities of Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Higuey and La Romana. He encouraged anyone who is bitten by an animal to promptly get medical attention.