Dog bites increasing, rabies remains public health issue

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 9 (PIA)—From 6,506 dog bite cases in 2014, the figure increased to 7,812 cases in 2016, data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed.

In the same year, 5 dog bites have been suspected or turned positive of rabies cases from one in 2014, none in 2013 and both one case in 2012 and 2011. 

The increase in dog bit cases in 2015, amounting to 1,306 cases gets even more terrifying when rabies authorities look into the prospect of more and more kids in the streets with the school opening. 

Rabies continues to be a public health problem in Bohol, she told members of the Bohol Rabies Prevention and Elimination Program. 

The PHO data, presented by Bohol human rabies control program coordinator Polizena Rances, also showed that children below 15 are more likely to be bitten than people above 15.

She showed that bite cases in 15 years old and below reached 4193; while for over 15 years old, 3,619 cases were monitored all over Bohol. 

Rances, who is a nurse by profession, also said that 56% of animal bite cases were males; a good 46% are females. 

In most bite cases, 67% of the victims are classified second category. This is equivalent to 5,245 cases over 2,556 category 3 cases, which medical practitioners describe as open wound and locate in close proximity to the head. 

Second category means the wound is not superficial, but is a bit far from the brain, where rabies virus attacks as it flows into the nervous system. 

With this, Bohol Rabies Prevention and Elimination Council members appeal to people especially those with pet dogs that are not leashed, to keep their dogs under control. 

The opening up of classes this week puts more and more kids on the streets and stray dogs, which might also be loitering may just pounce on unsuspecting kids.

Aside from the risks of dog bite cases, which are largely reported over other animal bites, stray dogs can also cause street accidents. 

The BRPEC is now devising ways to empower police in their respective stations to segregate and file traffic related reports categorizing then as purely traffic accidents or caused by stray dogs. (rac/PI-7/Bohol)