Five children die from rabies infection

Five children admitted at the Koforidua Regional Hospital with dog bites between April and October have died of rabies infection.

The children whose ages ranges between five to seven years, died between nine hours to 48 hours on admission to the hospital.

Apart from one who hails from Koforidua, the rest were referred to the hospital from Obo Kwahu, Suhum, Asamankese and the Atua Government Hospital near Krobo Odumase.

Commenting on the issue, the Acting Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Kwame Anim Boamah called on the Municipal and District Assemblies in the Eastern Region to collaborate with the Veterinary Services to embark on mass immunization of dogs and cats in the region against rabies to help reduce the incidence of rabies in the region.

He called on the Ghana Education Service to educate the school children about the disease to report any case of dog bite for early treatment.

Dr Boamah also called on parents to report any dog bite of their children to the nearest health centre for early treatment.

Dr Emmanuel Amoah, the head of the Paediatrics Department of the hospital, said the rabies disease affect the nervous system and once one contracts the disease, the survival rate is almost nil.

He called for the provision of more anti-rabies vaccines at the hospitals and clinics in the region to help save people who report of dog bites early to the hospitals.

Source: GNA