Central Visayas animal bites cases reach 19,300

CEBU CITY – The number of animal bites cases in Central Visayas reached 19,382 in the first three months of this year, data released by the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

DOH reported four persons died of rabies – three in Cebu province and one in Negros Oriental. Health officials were still verifying three other cases of fatalities.

About 80 percent or 15,170 cases were dog bites, while 22 percent (4,135 cases) were cat bites.

DOH Rabies Control and Prevention Regional Coordinator Dr. Joanri Riveral said they were verifying a report that a resident of Carmen in this city died from rabies last week.

Cebu province has the highest animal bite cases with 6,569, followed by Negros Oriental (2,833), Cebu City (2,776), Bohol (2,267), and Mandaue (1,735).

For the entire 2016, animal bites cases in the region reached 59,773.

Riveral advised local health officers to step up the mass vaccination for dogs and urged pet owners to have their animals vaccinated.

DOH will hold regional Rabies Summit August 8 to 9, in Tagbilaran City for DOH central officers, provincial and city coordinators, representatives of animal bite centers, Department of Education, and local government units.