2 months after being bitten by a dog, teenager dies from rabies | ABS-CBN
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2 months after being bitten by a dog, teenager dies from rabies
2 months after being bitten by a dog, teenager dies from rabies
A portrait of Jamaica Star Seraspe is held by her mother. ABS-CBN News
A portrait of Jamaica Star Seraspe is held by her mother. ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- A teenager who hid the fact that she had been bitten by a dog from her parents tragically passed away from rabies two months later.
MANILA -- A teenager who hid the fact that she had been bitten by a dog from her parents tragically passed away from rabies two months later.
Jamaica Star Seraspe, according to her parents, explained that she concealed the incident out of fear of getting scolded. The girl was walking home from school in Tondo District, Manila, when a stray dog bit her on February 10.
Jamaica Star Seraspe, according to her parents, explained that she concealed the incident out of fear of getting scolded. The girl was walking home from school in Tondo District, Manila, when a stray dog bit her on February 10.
Instead of immediately seeking medical help, Jamaica kept the incident secret from her parents. It wasn't until two months later, when she started experiencing severe symptoms like fever, back pain, fatigue, and difficulty drinking water, that she confessed to her mother, Roselyn Saraspe, about the dog bite.
Instead of immediately seeking medical help, Jamaica kept the incident secret from her parents. It wasn't until two months later, when she started experiencing severe symptoms like fever, back pain, fatigue, and difficulty drinking water, that she confessed to her mother, Roselyn Saraspe, about the dog bite.
She recalled: “May hawak siya baso. Sabi nya, 'Mama, mama.' Umiiyak na siya. 'Mama, 'di ako makainom ng tubig.' Sabi ko, 'Bakit 'di ka makainom ng tubig?' Sabi niya, 'Mama, baka may rabies na ako,' sabi n'ya, ganun. 'Nakagat ka ba [ng] aso?' 'Oo, mama nakagat ako'.”
She recalled: “May hawak siya baso. Sabi nya, 'Mama, mama.' Umiiyak na siya. 'Mama, 'di ako makainom ng tubig.' Sabi ko, 'Bakit 'di ka makainom ng tubig?' Sabi niya, 'Mama, baka may rabies na ako,' sabi n'ya, ganun. 'Nakagat ka ba [ng] aso?' 'Oo, mama nakagat ako'.”
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(She was holding a glass, and she said, ‘Mom, mom, I’m crying, mom, I can’t drink water.’ I asked her why she couldn’t drink water, and she said, ‘Mom, maybe I have rabies.’ I asked her, ‘Did a dog bite you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, mom, a dog bit me.’)
(She was holding a glass, and she said, ‘Mom, mom, I’m crying, mom, I can’t drink water.’ I asked her why she couldn’t drink water, and she said, ‘Mom, maybe I have rabies.’ I asked her, ‘Did a dog bite you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, mom, a dog bit me.’)
Jamaica was admitted to San Lazaro Hospital on April 5, where she had to be restrained due to restlessness. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she passed away on April 6. Roselyn expressed deep sorrow, mentioning that Jamaica had known she might have rabies but didn't want to worry her mother.
Jamaica was admitted to San Lazaro Hospital on April 5, where she had to be restrained due to restlessness. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she passed away on April 6. Roselyn expressed deep sorrow, mentioning that Jamaica had known she might have rabies but didn't want to worry her mother.
"Sabi ng doctor, kinausap nga nila ako. Sabi, 'Pasensya na, nasa utak na niya ang virus. Last stage yung sintomas na hydrophobia.' Sabi ko, ilang oras ilang araw? Sabi niya, 24 hours," Roselyn said.
"Sabi ng doctor, kinausap nga nila ako. Sabi, 'Pasensya na, nasa utak na niya ang virus. Last stage yung sintomas na hydrophobia.' Sabi ko, ilang oras ilang araw? Sabi niya, 24 hours," Roselyn said.
(The doctor told me that they spoke to me and said sorry, that the virus is already in her brain. The symptoms of hydrophobia, they said, how many hours, how many days. They said 24 hours.)
(The doctor told me that they spoke to me and said sorry, that the virus is already in her brain. The symptoms of hydrophobia, they said, how many hours, how many days. They said 24 hours.)
Reflecting on her daughter's messages before her death, Roselyn shared Jamaica's heartbreaking realization that she likely had rabies and her deep regret for not speaking up sooner. The messages also revealed Jamaica's suffering and fear as she researched rabies symptoms and experienced the agony of hydrophobia, expressing love for her family in a final goodbye.
Reflecting on her daughter's messages before her death, Roselyn shared Jamaica's heartbreaking realization that she likely had rabies and her deep regret for not speaking up sooner. The messages also revealed Jamaica's suffering and fear as she researched rabies symptoms and experienced the agony of hydrophobia, expressing love for her family in a final goodbye.
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According to the Officer in charge of Manila City Veterinary Office, Dr. Nick Santos, there were nine other people who were bitten by the same dog in Tondo. Eight of them survived and only Jamaica died. He said the teenager would have survived if she had been honest about what happened.
According to the Officer in charge of Manila City Veterinary Office, Dr. Nick Santos, there were nine other people who were bitten by the same dog in Tondo. Eight of them survived and only Jamaica died. He said the teenager would have survived if she had been honest about what happened.
"Yun ang nakakalungkot eh, dahil namatay [ang] bata na kung nagsabi lang siya, naagapan sana," he said.
"Yun ang nakakalungkot eh, dahil namatay [ang] bata na kung nagsabi lang siya, naagapan sana," he said.
(That’s what’s sad, because the child died. If only she had told us, she could have been saved.)
(That’s what’s sad, because the child died. If only she had told us, she could have been saved.)
Meanwhile, according to the Department of Health, from January to March 16 this year, there were a total of 89 rabies cases which resulted in deaths.
Meanwhile, according to the Department of Health, from January to March 16 this year, there were a total of 89 rabies cases which resulted in deaths.
But the government assures the public that they have enough anti-rabies vaccines.
But the government assures the public that they have enough anti-rabies vaccines.
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