Rabies cases seen to rise in Central Visayas

Health authorities in Central Visayas are expecting the number of persons killed by rabies to surge this year.

The Department of Health-7 has recorded nine confirmed cases of deaths linked to rabies during the first half of the year alone.

Six more deaths that were recorded during the third quarter are still being validated.

If the agency confirms these were indeed caused by rabies, that would nearly double number of deaths this year after last year’s eight cases.

DOH-7 medical specialist Dr. Joann Riveral said most of the confirmed and suspected rabies cases in the region happened in Cebu, followed by Negros Oriental and Bohol.

Riveral, who was among the speakers at the Kapihan sa PIA-7 forum yesterday, said though that the outcome was expected because of Cebu’s big population.

She said most of the victims were males.

A total of 59,773 animal bite cases were recorded across Central Visayas last year. The bites came from cats, dogs, cattle, and other domestic animals, although Riveral said dogs remained the top cause of the cases.

“Mostly kaning mga iro gyud nga wala’y tag-iya. Kung mapaakan ka sa imohang iro, bisan nabakunahan pa na or wala, dapat proper sanitation gyud, especially kun naa ka open wounds. Always clean with soap and water and go to your doctor for an immediate treatment,” Riveral said.

Riveral stressed the importance of vaccination for children and the pets to protect the owner and the family from possibly contacting with the virus.

“Importante gyud nga bakunahan ang mga bata, especially in areas nga taas og rabies cases,” she said.

She also reminded the owners to always take good care of their pets in accordance with the Animal Welfare Code.

Likewise, Riveral said DOH’s Animal Bite Treatment Center gives out leaflets containing information on the possible effects of rabies in a person’s body and ways to prevent it.

Free anti-rabies vaccines are also available in some public clinics, she added.