Cagayan tops rabies cases in region

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Already being haunted by possible outbreaks of dengue and other mosquito and water-borne illnesses, this country’s northernmost Cagayan province is also being plagued with rising rabies cases.

Based on reports, at least 3,000 residents have already been affected with rabies since last year. Of these, 11 persons have succumbed to it, the latest being 65-year-old Elena Palattao of Rizal town, making this province the region’s topmost in rabies cases.

As a result, the provincial health office here is now running out of supply of vaccines for rabies patients.

“We are trying to give even the first dose of anti-rabies vaccines to patients but even this, we could no longer afford to provide as our present budget is no longer enough, more so to complete the needed dosage,” said Dr. Danilo Alonzo, provincial health officer.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease which is spread through the bite of infected animals, mostly dogs, wherein infected people show various symptoms like hydrophobia, fear of bright lights and unstable actuations.

Alonzo said that even the provincial government could now hardly afford to provide rabies patients with the first dose of anti-rabies vaccines for free as funds allotted this year for the procurement of said vaccines were already exhausted.     – Charlie Lagasca