TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte (PIA) — Medical experts have identified eating dog meat as one of the transmission modes of rabies virus.
Guesting during the recent episode of Kapihan sa DavNor, Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office (PHO) Anti-Rabies Program Coordinator, Dr. Josephine Therese Parreñas, medical officer IV, categorically said eating dog meat is an identified mode of rabies transmission.
“Yes po, apil na siya sa mode of transmissions, ang pagkaon ug dog meat ug gina-discourage nato na siya (eating dog meat is among the modes of transmission, and we are discouraging it),” she said.
Dr. Parreñas also attributed the increase in “suspected” rabies cases to eating dog meat, on top of the rising cases of animal bites.
“Isa pud sa factor nga nag increase (one of the factors of the increase)… kay nagtaas pud ang incident sa nagakaon ug (is the increasing incidence of eating) dog meat. Mao pud ang isa sa pwede nga (that is one of the possible) mode of transmission kung nagakaon kita ug (if we eat) dog meat,” she said in the Kapihan sa DavNor.
Citing a Provincial Veterinary’s Office statement, Dr. Parrenas said “dogs and cats are for pets, not for table food.”
“Apil jud na sia sa responsible pet ownership under sa Animal Welfare Act. Kung pananglitan nga masakpan ta sa mga authorities nga nagkaon ug iro naa jud na siyay katumbas nga penalty,” she said.
[That is included in responsible pet ownership under the Animal Welfare Act. If we are caught by authorities eating dog meat, that has a corresponding penalty.]
She revealed that Davao del Norte had 13 total rabies cases last year, including the four cases logged by the City Health Office of Tagum.
She cited this number of cases as “alarming” because PHO Davao del Norte used to register just 2 to 4 total number rabies cases in the previous years.
Meanwhile, City Health Officer, Dr. Arnel Florendo during the same Kapihan episode agreed with Dr. Parrenas but admitted the difficulty of proving the selling and eating of dog meat.
“We are trying to reach the mindset sa mga tawo nga, nakabalo mo nga dili jud na (we have already known that is not) for human consumption. Dili na siya safe for human consumption; it is not recommended for human consumption. Naa ra na siya sa inyo ug morisgo mo (If it is up to you if you would take the risk),” he said. (JMDA, PIA XI)
