Fourteen individuals bitten by rabid dog in Pampanga

At least 14 individuals, mostly children, in San Fernando, Pampanga were bitten by a dog which local authorities later found positive for rabies.

According to one of the victims, a 40-year-old woman, she was resting in a store when a dog — identified as a Belgian Malinois — attacked her and bit her on the face, and then ran off.

“Sumigaw po ako sa labas kung kaninong aso ‘yun, wala naman pong sumasagot, tapos dinala na ako sa hospital,” she said in a report by GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon's CJ Torida on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(I was shouting outside, asking whose dog that was and no one was answering. I was then brought to the hospital.)

The victim, who has yet to fully regain movement on the left side of her face, was not identified in the report.

There were 13 other individuals reported to have been bitten by the dog, mostly children.

The dog was then reported to have been beaten to death by fearful residents. Its owner has yet to be identified.

“Ang rabies virus kasi, ang ina-attack niya, ‘yung central nervous system no, so ‘yung brain niya is affected… 100% mortality ‘yung rabies kapag hindi nabakunahan ‘yung mga tao,” said Dr. Ryan Paul Manlapaz of the CSFP Agriculture and Veterinary Office.

(The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system so the brain is affected… It has a 100% mortality if the individual is left unvaccinated.)

The Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 requires dog owners to have their animals vaccinated. They are also liable for the medical expenses of bite victims. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News