BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan urged the public to beware of stray dogs and ordered the City Veterinary Office to step up its campaign on impounding and vaccinating dogs.
During the recent Alay Sa Kalinisan meeting at City Hall, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Cesu) head Dr. Donabelle Tubera revealed at least 1,670 dog bites to humans were recorded in the different barangays of the city this year.
For 2012, however, there were 4,828 cases of dog bites which cost P15.7 million in vaccines for humans, Tubera said. She added if the dogs would have been vaccinated with anti-rabies, it would have cost the city only P240,000.
There are no antibiotics to prevent or cure rabies, Tubera further said.
If one gets bitten the wound must be washed with soap and water and patient must immediately seek medical attention. Dog owners are obliged to pay all medical expenses of the dog bite victim, in addition to other penalties.
It is for this reason barangay officials must help in the campaign to have dogs vaccinated and restrain them from roaming around in public, the mayor said.
City Veterinary Officer Dr. Brigette Piok said accredited employees from her department conduct yearly anti-rabies campaign through vaccinations in the barangays. National line agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education and Department of the Interior and Local Government, Benguet State University, Animal Kingdom Foundation and volunteers are also involved in the endeavor.
Dr. Tubera also mentioned of a suspected case of leptospirosis in the region, but the person expired before he could be brought to the hospital. (Paul Rillorta)