Babel Univ. academician warns of rabies spread

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: An academician from Babel University warned Sunday of the spread of rabies in the province where five people were killed of the viral disease, according to a statement by the ministry of higher education & scientific research. “Rabies is a disease that can be infectious to humans through the dog saliva. The bodies in charge in the health and agriculture ministry have to provide the serums to fight the disease in both humans and dogs,” Dr. Hassan Ulwan, the Babel University’s community medicine section chief, told IraqiNews.com news agency. He called for “a preventive program that envisages the annihilation of stray dogs and holding health awareness symposiums particularly in rural areas”. Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic, or transmitted by animals, most commonly by a bite from an infected animal but occasionally by other forms of contact. Rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms. AmR (P) 3