CHO cannot cater to new animal bite patients

DUE to low-supply of anti-rabies vaccines, the City Health Office (CHO) Animal Bite Center cannot cater to new patients.

According to District Health Physician Annaliza Malubay, the issue about the shortage of rabies vaccine is still a problem and the supply for this year has not arrived yet.

She said that they prioritize patients now who have initially availed the vaccine, and are coming back to the center for follow-up.

Malubay advised public to practice responsible pet ownership.

“Number one, if we have a pet and we know that it will bite, then it is better to tie it. Number two is our wound management itself; if possible to wash our wounds with soap and water because by washing only, it is possible for the rabies to be washed-out also. Do not put garlic because it will sting. Last but not the least, of course it is very important to immunized our pets because if we can control rabies at pet level, then it is better,” she said.

There are three categories of rabies exposure: Category I, the touching or feeding and the licks on intact skin of the animals; Category II, the nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding; and Category III, the single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, licks on broken skin and the contamination of mucus membrane with saliva from licks of animals.

According to Animal Bite Center data, for the first quarter of 2018 alone, 2,499 people are recorded with animal bite, 1760 got it from dogs, 732 from cats and seven from

other animals like the monkey, bat and pig.

This total number of bites for the first quarter is lower compared to last year’s 3,321 record in the same period.

For the whole year 2017, the center recorded all in all 16,402 people with rabies

Based on the data, each person recorded bitten by animals were all given Tissue Culture Vaccine.

A total of two people have been recorded dead from rabies this year, one was 64 year -old male from Indagan, Buhangin, and one was a 42 year old from Ilang, Bunawan Davao City.

Last year only two deaths have been recorded.