THE Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) urged the City Veterinary Office (CVO) to intensify its advocacy on responsible pet ownership to prevent rabies cases.
This was after a 25-year-old woman died from suspected rabies at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, two months after she was bitten by a dog.
The patient, a resident of Barangay 35, Bacolod City, was bitten by a dog in Kabankalan City in March 2025.
The dog also expired in March with no adequate information on how the dog died.
The patient was admitted to the CLMMRH on May 24, 2025, with signs and symptoms of aerophobia and hydrophobia. Unfortunately, she did not survive and expired on the following day.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the City Health Office (CHO) Environment Sanitation Division, said the pet owners should have fenced-in yard for dogs as preventive measures against occurrence of rabies or injury.
“It’s our primary stand to be a responsible pet owner,” she said.
She added it’s also the best time to advocate those with animal bites to visit the nearest animal bite center for an injection and urged them not to miss the doses of vaccine.
CHO records revealed that the city had 347 animal bite cases from January to April 2025.
Of the 61 barangays, Taculing led the list with 86 cases, followed by Barangay Mansilingan with 74 cases, Barangay Estefania with 69 cases, Barangay Tangub with 60 cases, and Barangay Singcang-Airport with 58 cases.
Moreover, Tan said they are now conducting a contract tracing in the areas of Kabankalan City and Barangay 35 to determine the individuals who are close to the patient after she was bitten by a dog.
She said the partner of the patient was also given at least five doses of vaccine to prevent the transmission of rabies.
The CHO is also waiting the record from the Department of Health (DOH) to determine if the said case will be included in the list of Bacolod City since the patient was bitten by a dog in the area of Kabankalan City, but expired in Bacolod City. (MAP)