MindanaoToday.com | Rise in animal bite incidents alarming
By: Uriel Quilinguing
The City Health Office (CHO) of Cagayan de Oro has expressed fears on the sudden increase of animal bite incidents beyond manageable levels, a reason why rabies vaccine supply has run out since June, this year.
CHO recorded over 20,000 cases of animal bites last year which was a 67-percent increase over the 12,000 incidents in 2022 in Cagayan de Oro. Two patients died due to animal rabies in 2023.
This year, about 300 persons would queque in a single day, except weekends, at the CHO’s Animal Bite Center (former site of the City Cemetery) along Archbishop James Hayes Street to avail of free rabies vaccines.
CHO Chief Rachel Dilla, in a Meet the Press forum at SM Downtown Premier on Wednesday, Juy 10, said they have limited space fronting their office, hence 80 chairs are set up.
In response to a complaint raised during the forum, Dilla apologized for the inconvenience which she attributed to the growing interest of having pet dogs or cats, something the CHO observed in recent years.
PETS, NOT TOYS
She said that many get bitten by pet dogs or cats because owners thought these live animals are toys devoid of emotions, but animals have mood-swings too like humans.
Kids get bitten for playing with them outside the cages where these pets should be kept, she said, and urged parents to decide—once and for all–which is more important their children or pets.
Dilla said said pet owners should not pass on their responsibility to government health agency personnel.
For the firt six months this year, the CHO has already logged over 12,000 incidents of animal bites, and 90 percent of this are pets.
Health Education and Promotion Officer Reagan Abbu said: “Before, 90 percent of the bites from dogs, now 60 percent from cats.”
Often, these pets roam freely inside the house although they have cages. Some sleep with their animal pets
RABIES INFECTION
The CHO chief said that once a person gets infected with rabies, he must have rabies vaccine within 24 hours or before the onset of symptoms. Once a patient manifests symptoms, it indicates he has been bitten by a rabid animal and it would just be a matter of time.
Rabies virus infects the central nervous system. Symptoms may occur from days to years after exposure to the virus and these include delirium (confusion), abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia (difficulty sleeping), which precede coma and death.
People can get rabies if they have contact with the saliva or neural tissue of an infected animal, for example through a bite or scratch, and do not receive appropriate medical care, including rabies vaccine.
VACCINE DOSES
Often, one who has been exposed to risk of rabies infection would be advised to receive two doses of rabies vaccine on days 0 and 7. Rabies vaccine can prevent rabies if given to a person after an exposure.
After an exposure or potential exposure to rabies, the wound site should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water.
Rabies vaccine should be given as soon as possible after an exposure but may be effective any time before symptoms begin. Once symptoms begin, rabies vaccine is no longer helpful in preventing rabies.
Prevailing price of twin-dose rabies vaccines range from a low of P11 thousand to as high as P20 thousand, and that, if supply is available, according to CHO’s HEPO.
If one has not been vaccinated against rabies in the past, he may need four doses of rabies vaccine over two weeks, given on days 0, 3, 7, and 14.
Dilla said that although rabies vaccines are dispensed free of charge by government health centers and offices and public hospitals, such can only be done if they have the supply.
But the CHO, she said, has already allocated their remaining supply for repeat doses of those already registered with them. Those they can no longer served are beiing advised to buy from duly-accredited pharmacies. (30)
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