DOH: Rabies claimed three lives in Bicol region

FILE PHOTO: Pet owners bring their pet dogs and cats to Bernardo Park in Barangay Pinagkaisahan, Quezon City on Monday, June 29, 2020, to have them vaccinated with anti-rabies shot. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta

LEGAZPI CITY — Three have died due to rabies in Region V at the first quarter of this year, according to the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) in Bicol.

The agency reported Wednesday that two of the victims were from Camarines Sur province while the other fatality was from the island province of Masbate.

The fatalities in Camarines Sur were recorded in Goa town on March 14 while the one in Masbate was logged March 27 in Mobo town.

Based on data provided by DOH-CHD Bicol, there were 12,074 bite cases in the whole region for the 1st quarter of 2022.

Camarines Sur had the most with 4,084 patients bitten followed by Sorsogon with 2,443 bite cases. Albay is on the third spot with 2,087 while Masbate has 1,500. There were 1,243 victims in Camarines Norte and 717 cases in Catanduanes.

Ruby Dizon-Jeremias, rabies coordinator of DOH-CHD Bicol, told the Inquirer in a text message that the number of recorded cases this year is quite low compared in the 1st quarter of 2021 wherein there were 12,222 bite victims.

“We are appealing to the public, particularly those who were bitten by [cats and dogs] to go to the hospital the soonest possible time and take an anti-rabies jab for protection in order to prevent the disease that may lead to death,” she said.

She also remind the pet owners to avail of the free vaccination services being administered by personnel from Albay provincial government and Legazpi City government veterinary offices.

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