By JEN BAYLON

The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) said a 65-year-old man from Sagay City died from suspected rabies.

Rafael Marmolejo, PHO rabies nurse coordinator, said the man died on Monday, June 3, after he was bitten by his pet dog on his right thumb.

The family claimed the dog was vaccinated, but it has disappeared after the incident.

Marmolejo said the victim did not seek medical treatment immediately.

He was brought to the Lopez District Farmers Hospital in Sagay a month later because he was having difficulty swallowing water.

The man was given hypertensive medication.

Marmolejo added that 27 hospital personnel underwent medical assessment after their exposure to the patient.

The case was the second suspected rabies death in Negros Occidental for this year.

The first case was reported in January, after a nine-year-old boy from Moises Padilla town died from rabies.

The dog was then butchered and eaten, which resulted in 38 individuals being subjected to post-exposure treatment.

Marmolejo said they recorded 10,893 animal bite cases in the first quarter of 2024.

Of the number, 7,552 or 69.33 percent involved dogs, followed by cats with 3,280 or 30.11 percent./JB, WDJ