Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu has most rabies cases

CEBU, Philippines- The cities of Lapu-Lapu and Cebu remain as “great contributors” to the total number of canine rabies cases in the entire province of Cebu, an official of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported.

 “Great contributor sa entire province gyud ang Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City because they account 80 percent of the total cases,” Provincial Veterinarian Mary Rose Vincoy disclosed.

In 2013, there were 42 positive canine rabies cases reported in the entire Cebu.  Of the 42 cases, 31 came from the urbanized cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

In 2014, PVO recorded two lesser cases as compared to 2013 with 18 cases from Lapu-Lapu City, 16 from Cebu City, two from Talisay City and another two from Balamban town, and one each from Mandaue City and San Remigio.

However, positive human rabies decreased from seven in 2008 to three in 2013. One case was reported in each of the cities of Toledo, Bogo, and Naga.

“We have one last year but suspected ra man to. But bisan one case ra sa human rabies, we already consider it as outbreak and serious case,” Vincoy told reporters.

With this, Vincoy said they are currently focusing on intensifying rabies vaccination campaigns.

Rabies is zoonotic, a disease transmitted from animals infected with rabies virus to humans.

According to the World Health Organization, the incubation period for rabies is typically two to three months. However, this could also vary from five days to several years. Initial symptoms of rabies are usually non-specific. Often there will be fever, pain or unusual unexplained tingling, and pricking or burning sensation at the wound site.

Vincoy further reminded animal bite victims to wash the wound with soap and running water and immediately head to the nearest health facility to seek for a doctor’s advice and medical intervention like administering doses of vaccine against rabies.

“Ayaw na pag-unya-unya or butangan og ahos ba ron,” she said.  

She added that victims should also consider gathering information on the suspected rabid animal for observation purposes.

She explained that if the animal develops symptoms and dies within a 14-day observation period, the case will be treated as suspected rabies case. However, a laboratory testing on the animal’s head will be conducted for confirmation on the case.

But if the animal is still healthy after the observation period, Vincoy said, then there is no rabies exposure and the person bitten no longer needs rabies shots.

PVO, however, reported that positive cases of rabies dropped in local government units while the vaccination coverage increased since 2008.  As part of the country’s observation of the rabies awareness month this March, Cebu is intensifying its efforts and campaigns against the deadly rabies virus especially on areas with history of the disease.

Vincoy said the province has been supporting the local government units for the conduct of free rabies vaccinations for dogs within their jurisdictions. It has also trained local vaccinators.

The free vaccination drive is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and World Health Organization’s Rabies-Free Visayas Project in which Cebu is one of the recipients.

Vincoy said the PVO has also set aside P4 million this year to augment the rabies vaccination drive.  (FREEMAN)