CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health yesterday said the number of persons who died of rabies in the Central Visayas has went down since 2007.
Jocelyn Tabotabo, nurse coordinator of the DOH Rabies Prevention and Control Program said that from the 24 deaths reported in 2007, the number dropped to 15 in 2008 and continued to decrease to 12 in 2009.
She said Region-7 used to be in the top five among regions with highest number of rabies cases, but now, with the intensive information education campaign, Central Visayas already dropped to rank nine.
Tabotabo, who was among the guest speakers during the Kapihan sa PIA yesterday, said that aside from dog bites, a person may also get infected with rabies when licked by canines in their open wounds.
March is declared as Rabies Awareness Month by virtue of Republic Act No. 9482 signed on May 25, 2007, to build public awareness on the prevention and control of rabies through education and vaccination. — Mellanie Joy C. Rosales, CNU intern/WAB