DOH records 89 rabies cases in Q1 of 2024

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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it has recorded 89 total cases of rabies from January to March of 2024.

READ: Rabies cases on the rise, DOH advises vigilance

Based on data from the DOH as of March 16, the recorded 89 cases is 2 percent lower than the registered cases in the same period in 2023.

“Note that all human rabies cases are fatalities, resulting in a 100 percent case fatality rate,” said the DOH.

Soccsksargen reported the highest number at 12, followed by Calabarzon and Bicol Region at 11 cases each.

Majority or 82 of the cases were caused by dog bites, five were cat bites, while two were bites from other animals.

Among all cases, only one case was reported to have been bitten by a fully vaccinated animal, 40 cases were unvaccinated, while the remaining 48 were animals with unknown vaccination status.

READ: DOH warns vs rabies amid case uptick

Meanwhile, DOH said there were no reported cases of livestock-to-human transmission, but that the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry reported a case of dog-to-cattle transmission were reported in the provinces of Romblon and Marinduque.