PHO notes rise in rabies cases
THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) noted the alarming rise of rabies cases in the early part of this year with the death of four people during the first three months.
Speaking during the Media Kapihan sponsored by the Pangasinan Press Club on Tuesday, Dr. Cielo Almoite, head of the Family Health Cluster of the PHO, said the situation is alarming because in 2011 only three persons died from rabies.
Dr. Anna De Guzman, provincial health officer, said three of the fatalities were bitten by dogs and one by a cat, all of which did not have anti-rabies vaccine.
The fatalities came from Alaminos City, Lingayen, Binmaley and Bugallon. Three died at Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.
De Guzman said the PHO has intensified the monitoring of local government units that adopted ordinances directing mandatory vaccination of pet dogs in their localities.
Almoite explained that rabies is a virus transmitted to humans by rabied canines through their teeth or saliva.
INCUBATION PERIOD
The incubation period for the rabies could be from one month or as long as five years.
Almoite cited the case of one of the rabies fatalities in 2011 who manifested the symptoms one year after being bitten.
He advised all persons bitten by dogs or cats and other canines to immediately go to the nearest hospital and get their anti-rabies injection.
Outside of Dagupan City, the animal bite centers in Pangasinan that give free injection to persons bitten by rabied dogs or cats are the Western Pangasinan District Hospital and the Alaminos City Health Center in Alaminos City; the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital and the San Carlos City Health Center in San Carlos City; one in Dagupan City and the Health Center in Urdaneta City.
The provincial government allocates funds yearly to procure anti rabies medicines for persons and animals to boost the campaign against rabies being conducted by the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture.
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