DOH logs 84 rabies deaths so far in 2024

A total of 84 rabies cases, which all resulted in deaths, have been recorded from Jan. 1 to March 16, 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday. 

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag said they are now coordinating with the Department of Agriculture (DA) regarding the reported rabies infection among cattle in Marinduque.

"Binigyang linaw ng Department of Agriculture, kasi ang ni-report naman nila doon ay hindi naman mga aso 'yung may rabies kundi mga baboy daw diumano. Hinihintay pa namin ang report ng DA kasi dito sa ating bansa, ang rabies ay karaniwan ay sa kagat ng aso na may rabies," Tayag said.

(The Department of Agriculture clarified that the rabies infection was not among dogs, but pigs. We are still waiting for the DA's report because here in our country, rabies is usually caused by the bite of a rabid dog.)

Authorities have placed the towns of Boac and Buenavista in Marinduque under a state of calamity due to their high number of rabies cases.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dante Palabrica said an animal disease investigation was triggered after a 16-year old died because of rabies on Sept. 18, 2023.

Rabid dogs have also bitten six pigs, three cows, and a Philippine brown deer.

Tayag advised patients bitten by rabid animals to immediately wash the bite area with soap and water.

"Tapos kumunsulta kayo sa Animal Bite Center at doon magdedesisyon ang doktor kung kailangan niyong bakunahan. Kumpletuhin niyo ang bakuna, ayon sa schedule na ibibigay,” he added.

(Consult the Animal Bite Center and there, the doctor will decide if you need to be vaccinated. Complete the vaccine doses, based on the schedule that will be given to you.)

The DOH said at least three to five individuals die on average in the Philippines per year due to rabies.

Rabies vaccination budget

Meanwhile, the Agriculture department said it would need at least P110 million in funding to vaccinate some 22 million dogs and cats in the country amid cases of rabies infection cases among livestock.

"Kahapon, I met with an NGO (non-government organization) dealing with rabies... Basically, ang sinasabi nila sa akin, for next year, we need P110 million on the vaccine alone," DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told reporters in a media briefing in Nueva Ecija on Wednesday.

(I met with an NGO dealing with this yesterday. They said that we need P110 million next year for the vaccination alone.)

"Kailangan i-vaccinate is 22 million dogs para ma-eradicate ito. We need at least P110 million budget kasi 'yung isang vaccine is almost P500. 'Yun ang hihingin namin sa Kongreso, Senado and hopefully kung ma-improve, ma-implement natin," he said.

(We need to vaccinate 22 million dogs to eradicate this. We will ask the Congress and Senate for that budget next year and hopefully, it will be implemented.)

The DA earlier said it will begin the inoculation of dogs and cats in Marinduque following reports of livestock being infected with rabies virus in the island province, according to Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on 24 Oras last Monday.

The agency also earlier offered free anti-rabies vaccine and microchips for cats and dogs.

Livestock, such as cows and pigs, exhibit symptoms of rabies infections similar to dogs including excessive drooling, and deaths within a three-to-five day period. — VDV, GMA Integrated News