By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA – An average of 300 to 400 Filipinos die of rabies each year, while around 4 million animal bite cases are recorded annually, an animal expert said Wednesday.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Veterinary Medicine Associate Professor Dr. DJ Darwin Bandoy noted the need for stronger public awareness and vaccination efforts as rabies remains a major public health concern, particularly for patients classified under Category 3 exposure, or high-risk bites, who require immediate vaccination.
Bandoy clarified that rabies is not limited to stray dogs, debunking a common misconception among the public.
“Nakukuha din po siya kahit ito po ay owned o may sarili pong maliwanag na nagmamay-ari kung hindi po siya bakunado (Rabies can also come from owned pets if they are not vaccinated),” he said.
Persons bitten by animals with unknown vaccination records should immediately seek medical consultation, he said.
He advised pet owners to watch out for behavioral changes in dogs and cats, including unprovoked aggression and excessive drooling, which are common signs of rabies.
However, he noted that aggression triggered by provocation, such as stepping on a dog or approaching it as a stranger, is considered normal behavior.
Among preventive measures, Bandoy said annual vaccination of pets is important, especially in the Philippines where dogs are the primary source of human rabies infections.
“Kapag po bakunado ang 70 percent ng mga aso sa ating lugar, sa community, bumababa po ang tsansa ng pagkalat ng rabies mula sa mga aso, sa kapwa aso at eventually sa mga tao po (If 70 percent of dogs in a community are vaccinated, the risk of transmission from dogs to other dogs and eventually to humans significantly decreases),” he said.
In case of bites or scratches, Bandoy advised the public to immediately wash the wound and apply disinfectant.
However, first aid alone is not sufficient as he urged victims to promptly visit an Animal Bite Center for proper assessment and administration of the recommended vaccine regimen.
Rabies is 100 percent fatal once symptoms appear, but it is preventable if addressed early, he said.
Bandoy cited implementation gaps at the local level, noting that not all municipalities have mandatory veterinary services, which poses challenges in sustaining mass vaccination programs.
He called on both local government units and citizens to practice responsible pet ownership, including regular vaccination and controlling the population of dogs and cats. (PNA)
