DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte reminded Sunday the public to have their pets vaccinated for rabies.
Duterte said that although the City Health Office (CHO) has recorded a decrease in dog and cat bite cases this year, pet owners must be responsible.
In 2014, a total of 3,776 cases were recorded, which is lesser compared to last year’s 6,995.
“Pabakunahan ang iro, pero kung ang tag iya ang dili musugot, ang tag iya ang pabakunahan nako,” Duterte jokingly said during his “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” program aired Sunday.
Dr. Ma. Vilma V. Gonzaga, medical coordinator for the CHO-Davao rabies program, said Davao City recorded five deaths from animal bites this year.
The CHO-Animal Bite Center recorded two deaths from Tugbok District and one each from the districts of Bunawan, Calinan and Paquibato. All victims were minors, aging below 15 years old.
Duterte reminded the public that Davao City has an ordinance on anti-rabies program, which requires owners to have their pets vaccinated for rabies.
The City-wide Investment Plan for Health (CIPH) 2012-2016 of Davao City states that the city provides free anti-rabies vaccines to indigent patients from the local health budget, DOH and ADF of City Councilors.
"In 2010, the City Veterinarian's Office was able to vaccinate 43,172 dogs a decreased of 0.57 percent as compared to last year's 43,422 dogs vaccinated," the CIPH read.
The data revealed that among the animal bite cases, dog bite has the most number since 2006 to 2010, followed by cat bite.
Other reported cases were rat bite, monkey bite, pig bite, guinea pig bite, monitor lizard bite and hamster bite.
"In 2010, out of the 5,671 dog bite victims, 5,441 or 96 percent were given post exposure treatment. The districts of Talomo North (921), Talomo South (802) and Buhangin (667) registered the highest incidence of dog bite cases," the CIPH reported.
The report said the highest case of mortality recorded was in 2007 and 2009 with seven and six, respectively. In 2010, the cases dropped to three deaths.
"These patients, however, did not seek consultation with the Animal Bite Center for post-exposure treatment. Immediate members of the patients who died of rabies were advised to seek consultation immediately after the bite and for health education," it said.
The CIPH cited "weak compliance to ordinance on responsible pet ownership" as one of the weaknesses in anti-rabies campaign.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health- Davao Region also said it will give three doses of rabies vaccination for free next year. (ANC)