DUE to the low supply of anti-rabies vaccines, the City Health Office (CHO) Animal Bite Center cannot cater to new patients.
According to District Health Physician Annaliza Malubay, they were still short of rabies vaccines since the supply for 2018 has not arrived yet.
She said they were prioritizing patients who have initially availed of the vaccine, and are coming back to the center for the required follow-up shots.
Malubay advised the public to practice responsible pet ownership.
"Number one, if we have a pet and we know that it will bite, then it is better to tie it. Number two is our wound management itself; if possible to wash our wounds with soap and water because by washing only, it is possible for the rabies to be washed-out also. Do not put garlic because it will sting. Last but not the least, of course it is very important to immunized our pets because if we can control rabies at pet level, then it is better," she said.
There are three categories of rabies exposure: Category I, the touching or feeding and the licks on intact skin of the animals; Category II, the nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding; and Category III, the single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, licks on broken skin and the contamination of mucus membrane with saliva from licks of animals.
According to Animal Bite Center data, for the first quarter of 2018 alone, 2,499 people sustained animal bites: 1,760 from dogs, 732 from cats and seven from other animals like monkey, bat and pig.
This total number of bites for the first quarter is lower compared to last year's 3,321 record in the same period.
For the whole year 2017, the center recorded a total of 16,402 patients who were given tissue culture vaccine.
There were two fatalities – a 64-year-old male from Indagan, Buhangin, and a 42-year-old from Ilang, Bunawan Davao City.
Last year, only two deaths were recorded. (Jamille Galido Monforte, FSUU Intern)