ALTHOUGH the number of deaths from rabies has dropped by 30 percent in 2017 as compared to 2016, the Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region still considers it a health threat.
Speaking at Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, Health Regional Rabies Prevention and Control Program head Mary Divene Hilario said there are nine deaths in 2017, lower as compared to 2016 with 13.
Hilario said there were 58,581 animal bites from dogs and cats recorded in 2017.
She added that last year's record is a good development, as it only shows the communities are already aware of the dangers.
But even if the mortality rate has decreased, Hilario said rabies is still a threat until not a single person is infected with rabies through dog, or cat, or other livestock bite. Dogs have the highest animal bite incidents.
Hilario said there were 1,713 deaths caused by rabies recorded from 2010 to 2016 -- that's an average of 245 deaths per year.
In observation of the Rabies Awareness Month, Hilario urged those pet lovers to be responsible pet owners and have their pets injected with anti-rabies vaccine. She said rabies should not be taken for granted.
March has been declared Rabies Awareness Month pursuant to Republic Act 9482, which was signed into law in May 2007. It aims to reinforce public awareness on prevention, control, and management of rabies.
Hilario said a region is considered rabies-free if it has no cases recorded for two consecutive years.
She said the DOH-Davao is doing its best to reach to this level --
to eliminate rabies in Davao Region by 2020.
Rabies is an infection that occurs after a transdermal (one that pierces the skin) bite or scratch by an infected animal, like dogs and cats. It can be transmitted when infectious material, usually the saliva, comes into direct contact with the victim's fresh skin lesions.
It may also occur, though in very rare cases, through inhalation of virus containing spray or through organ transplants. Rabies is considered to be a neglected disease, which is 100 percent fatal though 100 percent preventable as well.