A 13-year-old girl from Tondo, Manila, tragically lost her life to rabies two months after a puppy bit her. Described by loved ones as a sweet and intelligent young woman, Jamaica Seraspe‘s untimely demise is a reminder of how serious rabies can be. Her grieving mother, Roselyn, had a message for everyone: “Don’t take rabies lightly.” Here’s what happened.

Teenager documents her battle against rabies

A series of screenshots shared by Roselyn show the teenager’s messages, documenting her two-month struggle with rabies.

“I’ve done a lot of research about sa rabies since nakagat ako ng puppy sa Vitas Park noong Feb. 9,” wrote Jamaica in one message.

“Since then, hindi ko matanggap na magiging rabid ako balang araw, and it’s too late na ata magpa-vaccine, so I kept it a secret,” she added.

Based on the messages, Jamaica said that she slowly felt the effects of rabies as the weeks went on.

“April 5, nag-start na akong magkaron ng hydrophobia. Ilang beses ko siya tinry na ma-overcome pero hindi,” she wrote.

Jamaica said that she expected having hydrophobia, or the fear of water, which is also a sign of rabies, to be painful, but she was mostly uncomfortable handling liquids. Nevertheless, she tried her hardest to stay hydrated.

“As the days went by, I started to accept my fate and pray to God na every night, sana magkaron ng miracle balang araw,” she added.

“Kaya ko ‘to nasulat para naman ma-remember yung death ko,” she explained. “Sana naman maging aware tayo sa environment natin lalo na ‘pag may mga animals na kayang ma-transmit yung disease. That’s all. Goodbye, world.”

Jamaica sadly succumbed to rabies on April 6.

Jamaica’s mother mourns daughter’s demise

In a separate Facebook post, Roselyn shared she didn’t know about her daughter’s struggle until early April. On April 4, Jamaica came to her complaining of a fever and aching hips, symptoms she thought were signs of UTI.

The following day, before Roselyn could take her to the hospital for a check-up for suspected UTI, Jamaica admitted that she had rabies.

“‘Mama hirap [ako] uminom ng tubig.’ Ang sabi ko, ‘Bakit?’ ‘Mama baka may rabies [ako].” Ang tanong ko, ‘Bakit, nakagat [ka ba] ng aso?’ ‘Opo,’ sagot niya. Kelan ka pa nakagat? ‘Nung Feb. 9 pa,’ sagot niya. Bakit ngaun ka lng nagsabi ang tagal na pala. ‘Mama sorry, sorry ma,” ang sagot nya sa ‘kin,” wrote Roselyn.

When Roselyn found out how serious her daughter’s illness was, she immediately took Jamaica to San Lazaro Hospital. Unfortunately, there was nothing the doctors could do to save her life since the virus was already in her brain.

A warning for parents

Roselyn shared her family’s tragic story so other parents could learn from it.

“Sa mga magulang po be concious po kung ano ang kakaiba sa anak natin. Ituro po sa mga anak natin na wag balewalain ang kalmot o kagat ng aso o pusa. Magsabi agad sa mga nakakatanda o magulang. Di biro ang rabies ito’y nakakamatay! Wag balewalain at di na mangyari pa sa iba ang nagyari sa anak ko at sana naagapan kung nagsabi agad,” she wrote.

She also had a message for pet owners everywhere: “Sa mga pet owner maging responsable po sa mga alaga, pabakunahan sila nang di makapaminsala sa iba.”

This heartbreaking event also emphasizes the critical role of open communication between parents and children. Dr. Nick Santos from the City Veterinary Office of Manila shared that eight other individuals bitten by the same puppy received prompt medical care and avoided rabies. Jamaica’s death could’ve been prevented if she had been comfortable immediately telling her parents what happened to her.

What do you need to know about rabies?

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects animals, including humans. It spreads through the saliva of infected animals, most commonly through bites, scratches, or licks on broken skin.

In animals, rabies manifests through unusual behavior, including aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, and paralysis.

For infected humans, early symptoms can be flu-like, with fever, headache, and fatigue. However, as Jamaica experienced, as the virus progresses, it affects the nervous system, causing symptoms leading to anxiety, confusion, and hydrophobia. Left untreated, it leads to death.

When you suspect you or someone you know has been exposed to rabies, wash the wound with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

Preventing rabies: Vaccination is the key

Rabies might be deadly but the good news is that it’s preventable through vaccination. Anti-rabies vaccines are proven to be highly effective for both humans and animals. Depending on the vaccine type, protection can even last for several years.

For animals, local government units usually give free anti-rabies vaccination. However, this isn’t enough. Head to your local vet clinic for 5-in-1 shots for dogs and 4-in-1 shots for cats. These are generally priced upwards from Php 400, depending on the clinic.

Humans can get anti-rabies vaccines anytime, as primary vaccination and booster dose. Animal Bite Treatment Centres (ABTCs) can provide these for free or at a low cost. You can also check with your local clinic and hospital or try home-based medical service providers like Juan Medical. Shots will cost upwards of Php 1,000.

Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube, to be the first to know about the latest news and coolest trends!