LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, Jan. 25 (PIA) – The Laoag City Health Office (CHO) is stressing the importance of immediately getting an anti-rabies vaccine for victims of animal bites and scratches, after recording its first human fatality due to rabies infection in the city this year.
 
The victim, a 51-year-old resident of Barangay No. 59-A, Dibua South, was bitten by his pet cat last November 2023 but did not immediately seek medical attention to treat the bite.
 
According to CHO, the victim passed away in the first week of January.
 
With this, Dr. Joseph Adaya, city health officer, is appealing to the public to avail of their free anti-rabies vaccination service if bitten or scratched by animals and only go to accredited clinics or hospitals.
 
“Parati natin pinapaalala, kung makagat ang isang tao ng anumang animal pumunta na agad sa amin (CHO) para sa anti-rabies vaccine. Huwag nang pumunta sa mga healers para magpa-tandok, dahil mas malaki ang possibility na ito ay makaka-infect ng ‘yong sugat,” he said.
 
("We always remind the public, if they are bitten by any animal, they should immediately come to us for their anti-rabies vaccine. Don't go to healers for “tandok” because there is a bigger risk of infection in the wound,” he said.)
 
"Tandok" is a method used by traditional healers in supposedly extracting the rabies virus from the bite wound through the use of an animal horn.
 

Free anti-rabies vaccination is available at the Animal Bite Center of the Laoag CHO.
 
Moreover, the CHO is reassuring it has enough units of anti-rabies vaccine procured by the local government of Laoag and from the Department of Health (DOH).
 
Currently, the CHO is not monitoring any suspected human rabies infection in the city.
 
If a suspected case is reported, the city government will provide interventions like contact tracing of close contacts, provide them with anti-rabies vaccine, and continuously monitor close contacts if they manifest infection symptoms for early detection.

“Unfortunately, when we confirm that it is rabies infection, it already cannot be treated, the best we can do is refer to hospitals for proper care and conduct contact tracing to end the spread of infection,” Adaya added.

To prevent the further spread of rabies in animals, the City Veterinary Office is continuously conducting anti-rabies vaccination activities for dogs and cats at the barangay level.
 
As of posting, the city animal pound is still not operational, according to Dr. Samantha Licudine, the city veterinarian.
 
“As of now we are fast-tracking the finishing, purchase of a vehicle, and employment of staff for the animal pound,” she said.
 
However, the city veterinarian is positive that the animal pound will operate before the month ends or the following month.

She added that as of now, the animal pound has a 50-dog capacity, but additional cages will be delivered in the following weeks.
 
She also appealed for responsible pet ownership among residents, emphasizing the importance of getting regular anti-rabies vaccinations for pets, keeping pets inside their property, and providing proper care for animals so they don’t end up as strays.
 
Once the animal pound is operational, the veterinary office will prioritize the capture and rescue of rabies-infected animals to mitigate infection. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)