Health officer says: Mandaue dog bite victims safe

CEBU, Philippines - The 21 residents of Barangay Casuntingan in Mandaue City bitten by a mad dog last Saturday afternoon are not in danger or are a danger to other people, the city's health officer said.

"No. Wala'y imminent danger kadtong napaakan kay, so far, wala ma'y nasakit nila ug wala'y nagpakita nilang laing nilihukan," said city health officer Edna Seno said yesterday.

She said the victims have been injected with anti-rabies vaccines and will get three shots more for a month for free. Among those administered with vaccine yesterday was Casuntingan Captain Oscar Del Castillo.

Last Saturday, the dog initially attacked seven people, including the owner, Webster "Macoy" Seno, but subsequently bit several more. It was eventually captured in nearby Barangay Banilad Sunday dawn and was placed inside a sack for safety reasons.

The victims would have wanted that the dog be observed alive but the animal reportedly died from suffocation inside the sack.

Its head had been sent to the Department of Health Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for confirmatory testing. The result will be out within four to five days, Seno said.

The victims said the dog was salivating during the attack - an indication that it was rabid.

Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act provides that owners shall be held liable if their pets, especially dogs, would stray and bite other people.

Seno said the owners should pay for the hospitalization, vaccination, and other expenses that will be incurred by the victims.

Del Castillo said Macoy told him that if the victims will file a case against him, he will go to jail voluntarily. 

"Si Macoy, usa man sab sa napaakan. Ang akong problema kay miingon man sab siya nako nga magpa-priso nalang siya kay wala man siya'y ikabayad sa napaakan," Del Castillo said.

Vaccine

Seno said vaccination is important to prevent the virus from affecting the person's nervous system.

She said a person who is infected must be vaccinated less than seven days otherwise he or she may develop symptoms of the viral disease such as fever, fear of water and air, or manifestations of violent behavior.

Seno said the city health office has enough supply of anti-rabies vaccines that can be administered for free to those seeking emergency treatment for animal bites. The current stock of vaccines can cater to up to 100 patients a week. These were purchased by the city and given by the DOH.

Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing urged dog owners to practice responsible pet ownership by visiting health centers and veterinary clinics for anti-rabies vaccine.

In Cebu City, the veterinary office intensified its city-wide vaccination of dogs and cats, which started last January 3, to prevent the incident in Mandaue from happening here.

Office chief, Dr. Alice Utlang, said vaccination today will cover Barangays Lahug, Gudalupe, Sambag 1, Sambag 2 and Banilad.

"Kung adunay barangay nga magpositibo sa rabies, automatic ta mag-conduct og impounding ug massive vaccination sa lugar hangtod sa five kilometros radius niini," she said.

Like Quisumbing, she urged pet owners to avail of free vaccinations at their barangay centers.

"Kung schedule sa ilang barangay, mas maayo magpabakuna sila sa ilang iro ug iring kay libre man kini ug walay bayad ug mao nalang usab kini ang ilang tabang sa siyudad aron mahimong rabies free," she said.

Statistics

In just four months from September to December last year, animal bite cases in Central Visayas reached 18,651, most of which were dog bites, according to data of the Department of Health-7.

The report shows that 14,570 cases or 78.12 percent were caused by dog bites while the rest are from cats and other animals.

In Cebu province alone, at least 5,768 animal bite victims were reported.

Cebu City had 3,626 cases, Mandaue City had 1,531 cases, Lapu-Lapu City had 1,455 caess, Talisay City had 660 cases, Toledo City had 518 cases, and Bogo City had 301 cases.

At least 170 cases were accounted for at the Eversley Child's Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City.

In other provinces, at least 2,897 cases were recorded in Negros Oriental; 1,557 in Bohol; and 168 in Siquijor.

Dr. Joanri Riveral, regional coordinator of the Rabies Control and Prevention Program of DOH-7, told The FREEMAN they have advised local officials to review their existing ordinances to also bring importance to responsible pet ownership. — Garry B. Lao, Rowena D. Capistrano, and May B. Miasco (FREEMAN)