The Department of Health (DOH) Bicol Center for Health Development (CHD) has issued a warning to the public regarding the alarming 100% spike in rabies cases in the region.
As stated in the Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Database, the Bicol Region has experienced a 100% rise in recorded rabies cases from January 1 to March 9, 2024, compared to the same period last year.
Ms. Aida Ruby Dizon-Jeremias, Bicol’s Regional Rabies Program Manager, emphasized the severity of rabies, noting its 100% fatality rate.
However, she stressed that while rabies truly is deadly, it is still entirely preventable if one seeks medical attention promptly after being bitten by an animal.
That said, Jeremias then urged the public to immediately visit the nearest Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC) for rabies vaccination following an animal bite to prevent the onset of the fatal disease.
She underscored the importance of vaccination before experiencing clinical symptoms, which include fever, headache, pain or numbness at the bite site, delirium, paralysis, muscle spasms, hydrophobia, and aerophobia, as treatment becomes ineffective once symptoms appear.
Furthermore, DOH Bicol CHD called out to pet owners to take responsibility for their animals by ensuring regular check-ups and vaccinations to curb the spread of the rabies virus.
As a means of warning, Jeremias then highlighted the swift progression of rabies in infected dogs, with death occurring within three days after infection.
Nevertheless, despite such one-sided odds, she still advise prompt consultation with a veterinarian if a dog exhibits symptoms of rabies, such as excessive drooling, fever, aggression, loss of appetite, or behavioral changes.
Jeremias claimed that DOH Bicol CHD is also taking proactive steps to tackle the increase in rabies cases through training sessions for medical professionals, widespread availability of anti-rabies vaccines at Animal Bite Treatment Centers, and collaboration with provincial health offices and local government units to enforce ordinances for dog vaccination. | Kian Kirby F. Florano