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LUCENA CITY – The Department of Health in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region recorded seven cases of rabies from January 1 to March 4.
On Monday, March 13, the Health Education and Promotion Unit of DOH–Calabarzon reported that the seven rabies cases, with ages 5 to 60 years old, were all due to dog bites.
The DOH-Calabarzon said the present number of rabies cases is lower compared to 12 recorded cases during the same period last year.
“This is a good sign that our interventions are effective,” Dr. Ariel Valencia, DOH-Calabarzon director, said in a statement.
The record showed that Batangas, Rizal and Laguna provinces logged two cases each and Lucena City in Quezon province with one. Cavite has no recorded rabies case.
Valencia said the DOH Regional Rabies Prevention and Control Program with technical assistance from Animal Bite Treatment Centers has been conducting intensified awareness-raising campaign activities in different communities to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.
The deadly virus is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, commonly from dogs and cats. It can also come from bats and other mammals.
The country observes rabies awareness month every March.
The DOH aims to declare the Philippines a rabies-free country by 2030 and eliminate human rabies by 2027.
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