Woman bitten by dog dies at city health office

A 40-year-old woman yesterday died at the Cebu City Health Office while seeking medical help at the Animal Bite Section after she was bitten by a dog last November.

Homicide investigators who conducted a probe at the City Health office identified the victim as Visitacion Meting, a native of Palompon, Leyte who temporarily resided in sitio Mahayahay, Mabolo.

It was her elder son who accompanied her to the Animal Bite section hoping his mother would be administered a shot of the anti-rabies vaccine.

"Ulahi na man kaayo ang ilang pagdala dinhi sa amoa," Dr. Susana Adlawan, chief of the Animal Bite section, said. "Kun imong tan-awon ang mga symptoms, ilabi na nga mahadlok na siya og hangin ug tubig, lisod na gyud ug ulahi na kaayo ang iyang pagduol."

Mabolo barangay councilman Rey Ompoc will be asking the office of Dr. Alice Utlang, city veterinarian, to initiate an impounding of stray dogs in his barangay.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Rabies virus infects the central nervous system, causing encephalopathy and ultimately death. Early symptoms of rabies in humans are nonspecific, consisting of fever, headache, and general malaise. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms. - Ramil V. Ayuman