By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said they recorded 17 positive rabies cases among dogs in the province, including its capital, Bacolod City.
Records show that La Castellana town recorded two rabies cases, followed by Isabela, Calatrava and Toboso with one case each.
Separate records from the Provincial Health Office revealed that they have recorded two suspected rabies deaths.
PVO head Dr. Placeda Lemana expects that the cases may increase this year.
Meanwhile, Lemana said they had already inoculated anti-rabies vaccine doses to 123,826 dogs as of December 31, 2023.
The rabies vaccination rate only reached 45.67 percent of the more than 200,000 total dog population.
Lemana said there had been a drop in the vaccination rate as they had not received anti-rabies vaccine supplies from the Department of Agriculture.
The PVO is currently lobbying for the purchase of vaccines worth P10 million as they target to vaccinate at least 70 percent.
Lemana said the PHO is encouraging local government units to purchase their own anti-rabies vaccines.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a preventable viral disease that is often transmitted through a rabid animal’s bite.
The rabies virus infects the central nervous system.
The first symptoms following a bite from a rabid animal include weakness or discomfort, fever or headache, the CDC said.
There may also discomfort, prickling or an itching sensation at the bite site.
These symptoms may last for days, and if left untreated, may develop into cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation, hydrophobia, and ultimately death.
Treatment for rabies includes post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which consists of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and anti-rabies vaccine, given after the exposure.
A vaccine dose will be given after three, seven and 14 days.
For those who have never been vaccinated against rabies, PEP should always include administration of both HRIG and the vaccine.
The combination of doses is recommended for both bite and non-bite exposures, regardless of the interval between exposure and initiation of treatment./DGB, WDJ