DOH-7 installs new animal bite treatment centers

Wednesday 14th of March 2012

CEBU CITY, March 14 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) will install four more animal bite treatment centers in Central Visayas.

DOH-7 Regional Rabies Coordinator Jocelyn Tabotabo said there are already 25 animal bite treatment centers in the region. The additional four will be installed in Camotes Island and Bogo City in Cebu, Candijay, Bohol, and another Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

In a forum with the information officers here, Tabotabo urged the victims of animal bites to immediately go to the treatment centers in order to avail of the anti-rabies vaccination after they clean their wounds with soap and water.

She explained that washing the wounds is a way of washing out the virus transmitted by the animal through its saliva.

Rabies, considered to be a neglected disease, is fatal even though it is 100 percent preventable.

It is not among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the country but it is regarded as a significant public health problem because it is one of the most acutely fatal infections.

Tabotabo reported that the rate incident involving rabies infection is increasing from 26,298 in 2010 to 28,963 last year, or a 10.13 percent increase.

In 2011, around 387,918 or 71 percent of dogs in the region were immunized compared to the 27 percent out of 541,240 in 2010.

Tabotabo said for the rabies month celebration, they will intensify the dog immunization program in order to achieve the 80 percent maximum to decrease human death incidents.

For the first quarter of 2012, DOH records showed that one human death caused by rabies has already been reported.

There were 11 human deaths in 2011 and 13 in 2010.

Meanwhile, DOH-7 is conducting an ongoing training on animal bite treatment for 28 health officers from the four provinces of the region as part of the rabies awareness month celebration.(rmn/PIA-7/HFG)