Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) — The Department of Health (DOH) onTuesday said there have been 275 rabies cases recorded since the beginning of the year.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that most of the cases were recorded in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Davao Region, and Soccksargen.
“It has an almost 100% case fatality rate, especially kung kumpirmado ang rabies at kung nakagat ka doon sa mga areas na kritikal, tulad ng mukha, mga kamay, mga paa, yung mga mararami tayong blood vessels,” Vergeire said in a press briefing.
[Translation: It has an almost 100% fatality rate, especially if the rabies is confirmed and you were bitten in critical areas like the face, hands, and feet, where there are lots of blood vessels.]
The DOH noted that most of the rabies patients were bitten by domesticated animals.
If bitten by an infected animal, Vergeire advised the public to immediately wash the affected area and go to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Rabies is a viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch by infected animals like dogs and cats. Although it is fatal, the DOH said deaths are preventable.
“Ito pong mga kasama nating pets, maiiwasan din natin ang rabies kung ipapa-register natin sila sa ating local government at papabukanahan din po ng anti-rabies, para maging safe din tayo kung sakaling makagat tayo,” said Vergeire.
[Translation: We can prevent rabies if we will register our pets to the local government and have them vaccinated, so we will be safe if ever we got bitten.]
