Post by EXO on Jul 6, 2009 18:12:47 GMT 8
Many of you may recall that there are wild monkeys on Corregidor. Generally, and subject to what Phantom will say, they have kept their distance.
Though each year, they seem to get closer to the sources of easy food - and that means people, and trash.
When I was on Corregidor lately, I was walking alone at dusk down from Middleside along the road. Just below stockade level, as I came around the corner, I saw a troop of monkeys scatter. That is, all except one. It sat on top of the concrete railing next to the road, like a king on a throne, and didn't move at all, except to eyeball me. I crossed to the other side of the road, and walked smartly past him - so as not to confront or challenge him.
He didn't flinch, and I continued on my way.
Clearly, the leader of this troop isn't the least afraid of humans.
I'll cut to the chase.
It is only a matter of time before someone will be bitten by a monkey there.
The Philippines ranked No. 6 among the countries with the highest incidence of rabies in the world. I have absolutely no idea of the other five.
Of course, not every monkey has rabies. Not even a lot of them. It may well be 99.9% likely that those on Corregidor don't even have it at all.
Rabies is a 100% fatal viral disease affecting the nervous system of humans and animals. It remains a serious public health problem in the Philippines and causes the death of between 200 - 500 Filipinos annually. Death almost invariably results two to ten days after the first symptoms; the few humans who are known to have survived the disease were all left with severe brain damage.
Any mammal may become infected with the rabies virus and develop symptoms, including humans. Most animals can be infected by the virus and can transmit the disease to humans. Infected bats, monkeys, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cattle, wolves, dogs or cats provide the greatest risk to humans. Rabies may also spread through exposure to infected domestic farm animals, groundhogs, weasels and other wild carnivores. Squirrels, rodents and rabbits are seldom infected.
We have just as much chance being bitten by a rabid dog in Manila - but some day, a tourist will think the animal is a pet, will approach it, and will get bitten.
As we speak, Government Agencies are also gearing up their efforts towards the goal of declaring the Philippines as Rabies-Free by the 2020.
My point is this. Corregidor isn't an ordinary place. It is a place that brings well in excess of a hundred thousand people through it each year. Someone would have to be an idiot to be bitten by a monkey, right? Well, I bet that in your whole lifetime, you probably never got to know, let alone meet 100,000 people. How many idiots have you met?
Reference reading: www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&rp=1&fi=p090301.htm&no=4&date=3/1/2009
Though each year, they seem to get closer to the sources of easy food - and that means people, and trash.
When I was on Corregidor lately, I was walking alone at dusk down from Middleside along the road. Just below stockade level, as I came around the corner, I saw a troop of monkeys scatter. That is, all except one. It sat on top of the concrete railing next to the road, like a king on a throne, and didn't move at all, except to eyeball me. I crossed to the other side of the road, and walked smartly past him - so as not to confront or challenge him.
He didn't flinch, and I continued on my way.
Clearly, the leader of this troop isn't the least afraid of humans.
I'll cut to the chase.
It is only a matter of time before someone will be bitten by a monkey there.
The Philippines ranked No. 6 among the countries with the highest incidence of rabies in the world. I have absolutely no idea of the other five.
Of course, not every monkey has rabies. Not even a lot of them. It may well be 99.9% likely that those on Corregidor don't even have it at all.
Rabies is a 100% fatal viral disease affecting the nervous system of humans and animals. It remains a serious public health problem in the Philippines and causes the death of between 200 - 500 Filipinos annually. Death almost invariably results two to ten days after the first symptoms; the few humans who are known to have survived the disease were all left with severe brain damage.
Any mammal may become infected with the rabies virus and develop symptoms, including humans. Most animals can be infected by the virus and can transmit the disease to humans. Infected bats, monkeys, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cattle, wolves, dogs or cats provide the greatest risk to humans. Rabies may also spread through exposure to infected domestic farm animals, groundhogs, weasels and other wild carnivores. Squirrels, rodents and rabbits are seldom infected.
We have just as much chance being bitten by a rabid dog in Manila - but some day, a tourist will think the animal is a pet, will approach it, and will get bitten.
As we speak, Government Agencies are also gearing up their efforts towards the goal of declaring the Philippines as Rabies-Free by the 2020.
My point is this. Corregidor isn't an ordinary place. It is a place that brings well in excess of a hundred thousand people through it each year. Someone would have to be an idiot to be bitten by a monkey, right? Well, I bet that in your whole lifetime, you probably never got to know, let alone meet 100,000 people. How many idiots have you met?
Reference reading: www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&rp=1&fi=p090301.htm&no=4&date=3/1/2009