People bitten, scratched by animals flock to San Lazaro Hospital

Hundreds of people who were bitten or scratched by animals flocked to the San Lazaro Hospital to be administered with anti-rabies vaccines on Monday.

In Marisol Abdurahman’s Monday report on “24 Oras,” among these patients was a six-year-old girl who was bitten by their pet dog.

Meanwhile, three siblings were also in line to get vaccinated after they too were bitten and scratched by their family’s dog.

According to the San Lazaro Hospital, most of the patients were either bitten or scratched by their pets within the last two weeks.

However, there were also people who, after watching news about rabies cases in the country, remembered they were also bitten or scratched by an animal and visited the hospital to get vaccinated as a precaution.

The San Lazaro Hospital said about 2,000 patients have come to its Animal Bite and Treatment Center every day since last week.

“Magkatapos lumabas ng mga kwento sa social media tungkol sa mga rabies deaths na nangyari dito sa ating bansa, biglaang talagang tumaas ang aming mga animal bite consultations,” said Dr. Jerick Luigi de Villa, San Lazaro Hospital medical specialist III.

(After the news about rabies deaths in the country circulated online, our animal bite consultations have increased.)

Last year, San Lazaro Hospital logged 64 rabies cases. Since January 2025, it has recorded 15 rabies cases.

Health experts reminded the public to immediately get the anti-rabies vaccine once bitten or scratched by an animal.

“Once na meron ng sintomas yung mga pasyente o nagwawala na sila, takot na sila sa hangin, takot na sa tubig, wala nang kahit na anong bakuna o kahit na anong gamot na eepekto. Mahalaga rin na bakunado ang mga alagang hayop,” De Villa said.

(Once a patient has symptoms like the fear of the wind and water, no vaccine or any medicine can cure them. It is also important to have your pets get anti-rabies vaccines.)

The Department of Health (DOH) said once an animal is vaccinated, it cannot spread the rabies virus.

Some local government units offer free anti-rabies vaccines for dogs and cats.

Pet owners only need to spend P100 per anti-rabies shot each year. If it is done in a private hospital, an anti-rabies vaccine costs about P300 to P400.

The public may also get free anti-rabies vaccines from their respective local government units and some hospitals, while PhilHealth offers an animal bite package if patients get the vaccine from private hospitals.

Experts reminded the public to complete the vaccination for these to be  effective. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News