No. of dog bite victims in Mandaue reaches 22
Casuntingan Barangay Captain Oscar del Castillo said another victim showed up yesterday
There is no imminent danger of transmitting the virus to another person or to their family members.
Mandaue City officials, allaying fears that a dog’s bite is contagious
The 22 persons who were bitten by a stray dog in Barangay Casuntingan, Mandaue City were assured by the City Health Office (CHO) that they are safe and that the people around them have nothing to worry about.
The owner of the dog may be held liable for neglecting his responsibility as a pet owner, according to a city official.
Casuntingan Barangay Captain Oscar del Castillo said another victim from Barangay Banilad, Mandaue showed up yesterday, adding to the initial list of 21 victims.
Most of the victims were residents of Barangay Casuntingan. There was one from Barangay Opao, but he was bitten in Casuntingan.
Four victims who are residents of Barangay Banilad.
They were brought yesterday to the CHO for observation and were given free anti-rabies shots.
Dr. Edna Seno, head of the CHO, said they will be given 4 anti-rabies shots for a month. Med- icine capsules were also given to them which they should take for a week.
They were advised not to take alcohol while they have not yet completed their anti-rabies shots.
“Wala gyuy (There is no) imminent danger of transmitting it (the virus) to another person or diha sa ilang pamilya (to their family members),” said Seno.
Del Castillo, along with a barangay councilor, police, and seven tanods, found the stray dog near a funeral parlor in Barangay Banilad past 1 a.m. last Sunday.
They caught the dog and placed it in a sack. But the dog died about two to three hours later.
Personnel of the City Veterinary Office (CVO) beheaded the dog. The head was subjected to tests to determine if the animal had rabies.
Quisumbing said CVO sent the head to Tacloban City, Leyte.
In a separate interview, Dr. Nestor Taasan, head of CVO, said there was a problem with the equipment in Central Visayas so the dog’s head was sent to Tacloban to undergo a fluorescent antibody test.
The result may be had after five days.
Taasan said that such test can easily determine if a dog is rabid than the usual practice of observing the animal for 14 days.
Quisumbing advised people to immediately visit the nearest health facility if ever they got bitten by a dog.
“We need the residents to inform the barangay officials and city officials that there is a suspected rabid dog or cat in their area,” he said.
Since this is the first incident in Mandaue where a dog bit several persons, Councilor Kevin Cabahug, head of committee on health and hospital services, asked the public to immediately with the barangay if there are stray dogs in their area. /