THE Department of Health (DOH) 7 was alarmed by the rising cases of deaths caused by rabies in Cebu City and in Cebu Province.
During a forum yesterday, the health agency said that there were eight people who died of rabies in 2016, 21 deaths in 2017, and for the first two months of this year, at least five people have already died of the same findings.
Dr. Joanri Riveral, DOH medical specialist, said in 2017, there were 92,769 people who were bitten by dogs, and 21 of them died. The statistics covered the Province of Cebu and Cebu City, but Riveral failed to provide the exact number of cases for each locality.
“It’s alarming because they were aware that there is rabies in dog bites, yet they did not get full medication. Secondly, some people did not act as responsible pet owners by confining their dogs at home to prevent them from going stray,” said Riveral.
He said that if a person is bitten by a dog, particularly in the face, ear or lip, or near the brain, he or she should wash the wound with water and soap and immediately get anti-rabies vaccines.
Riveral said that of the more than 92,000 people who have dog bites in 2017, the health agency vaccinated 93 percent or 86,275 victims.
He said he did not know the reasons why the remaining seven percent or the 6,494 victims failed to get the needed vaccines, which are given by the DOH and its partner agencies for free.
Speaking before the Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency), Riveral said that March has been declared as the Rabies Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Barangay Kaagapay, Laban sa Rabies Tagumpay.”
For Cebu City, Riveral said that dog owners must register their pets before the Office of the Cebu City Veterinary under Dr. Alice Utlang. (EOB)