No. of :

No. of Shares:

Currently viewed by: Marcus Rosit

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Rabies infections continue to be a public health concern

Rabies infections continue to be a public health concern

Write a comment

Delete

DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has strengthened its campaign against rabies infection, emphasizing preventive measures and proper health care-seeking behavior.

Dr. Francis Jay Lagudas, SPMC’s rabies program manager, underscored the need for constant education among the public on the severe effects of rabies and how to prevent infection, “as rabies continues to be a public health problem in our country and the most acutely fatal infectious disease.”

Delete

He explained that rabies is a zoonotic disease and human infection that usually occurs following a transdermal bite or scratch by an infected animal, mostly dogs.

In a global situation, rabies “is a neglected disease that is 100 percent fatal yet 100 percent preventable. It is the 10th leading cause of death globally,” Lagudas said during the One Davao Virtual Presser episode of the Philippine Information Agency Region XI.  

In the country, rabies is responsible for the deaths of 300 to 600 Filipinos per year, and one-third of its total cases affect children below 15 years old, mostly males.

EditDelete
SPMC’s Animal Bite Treatment Center head Dr. Rizza Ong and Rabies Program manager Dr. Francis Jay Lagudas raise the need for intensified awareness raising and education among the public on the severe effects of rabies and how to prevent infection, during the One Davao Virtual Presser of the Philippine Information Agency Region XI.
Delete

Lagudas said that the top three regions with the highest number of rabies cases are those in Central Luzon, CALABARZONand Bicol, while Regions 10 and 11 are also included as top regions.

"Unfortunately, apil kita sa (we are included in the) top regions. So, only eight of 81 provinces are declared rabies-free from 2008 to 2020,” Lagudas stressed.

In March 2023, SPMC had recorded 55 cases of rabies infection, which was 8 percent higher than the 43 cases reported during the same period in 2022. Three deaths were also recorded in 2023.

Among the preventive measures against rabies infection among households, mass dog vaccination has been considered the most effective and cost-effective, Lagudas emphasized.

He encouraged every dog owner to make sure that their pets are fully vaccinated.

Another measure is the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, to victims of animal bites and pre-exposure prophylaxis among high-risk individuals, such as those handling rabies cases, workers at animal bite centers, and those handling animals.

“But the best prevention is to avoid direct animal contact and animal bites,” Lagudas said.

Meanwhile, SPMC’s head of the Animal Bite Treatment Center, Dr. Rizza Ong, emphasized that only health centers and accredited clinics and hospitals are reliable treatment facilities for animal bite cases.

EditDelete
Dr. Rizza Ong, SPMC’s head of the Animal Bite Treatment Center, warns the public not to patronize unauthorized individuals claiming to have medical knowledge and skills to treat animal bites, like “tandok,” a traditional medicine practice of removing venom, rabies and tetanus from a wound by using an animal horn.
Delete

Ong warned the public not to patronize quack doctors or unauthorized individuals claiming to have medical knowledge and skills to treat animal bites, to avoid fatal infections.

She said that as a first-aid medication for animal bites, victims must immediately wash the infected area in running water for at least ten minutes, then go to the nearest animal bite treatment center.

“Dili na kinahanglan butangan og ahos sama sa atong mga naandan (No need to apply garlic as a customary),” Ong reminded. (CLC/PIA Davao, with reports from ATC/PIA Intern)

About the Author

Carina Cayon

Regional Editor

Region 11

Related News

Feedback / Comment

Get in touch