March is not only Women’s International Month and Fire Prevention Month. It is also the time the government is raising awareness about this deadly disease called rabies.
It was during the time of the presidency of Joseph Estrada that the country observes March as Rabies Awareness Month when he signed Executive Order No. 84 on March 13, 1999.
Section 1 of the EO states: “A massive information drive on rabies shall be held nationwide every year in the month of March, complemented by a mass immunization of dogs in key areas nationwide and that the vaccines shall be provided for free to the public.”
According to the said EO, approximately 560,000 bite cases are reported every year. Of the said number, approximately 300-400 Filipino die every year. Rabies, it said, “causes much agony and suffering to victims and their families before death.”
That was back in 1999. Let’s examine the most current data in more detail. The number of rabies cases increased by 81.28%, from 235 to 426, between 2020 and 2024. All of the reported cases in 2024 resulted in deaths.
There were 55 rabies cases registered between January 1 and March 1 of this year, which is 39% fewer than the 90 cases recorded during the same time previous year.
The Philippines is sixth among the countries with the highest number of rabies cases, according to the Department of Health (DOH), the government agency that tracked the rabies incidents.
Health experts, however, fear the number of Filipinos who die of rabies may be much higher than those reported. They believe the death toll could be higher because of the many deaths that go unreported in remote parts of the country.
Surveillance of rabies in most parts of the country is inadequate and not given priority compared with other infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria. In addition, there are not too many laboratories doing rabies diagnosis.
The Global Alliance for Rabies Control considers rabies as the “deadliest disease on Earth.” It claims a person’s life every 10 minutes, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the Philippines, “rabies continues to be a prevalent public health threat,” says the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in its website. “The Philippines ranks among the highest in the world in terms of rabies prevalence.”
The rabies problem is as old as mankind, dating back in written records to the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians. The term “rabies,” however, came from the Sanskrit word rabhas, which means “to do violence.”
At one time, the disease was called hydrophobia (from the Greek words hydro for “water” and phobos for “fear”). The patient is extremely thirsty but experiences spasms of the larynx when water is presented or even mentioned.
“Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system,” RITM explains. “It is transmitted to a person through a bite of an infected animal. All warm-blooded animals may carry the rabies virus.”
The main carriers of the virus are bats. Aside from dogs and cats, the virus is also carried by cattle, horses, swine, goats, rabbits, and monkeys. Human beings are also carriers once they are bitten by rabid animals. It is “extremely rare” in squirrels, rats, and mice.
Some years ago, a study was done in Davao City. Based on figures gathered by the researchers, they found that about 635 dogs have been infected annually since 2012. Most of the rabies cases came from dogs, although there were also from cats. All in all, a total of 210 rabies-infected dogs were documented.
The rabies virus is transmitted mostly through a bite. Less common methods of transmission include scratches, abrasions, or open wounds that were exposed to infected animal’s saliva.
Other types of contact like petting a rabid animal or exposure to its blood urine or feces are not considered at risk for infection, according to Makati Medical Center (MMC).
“The usual pattern of transmission is dog to dog and then from dog to human,” says Dr. Dr. Mary Elizabeth Miranda, one of the country’s top experts on rabies.
“(The rabies virus) can be transmitted when infectious material, usually saliva, comes into direct contact with a victim’s fresh skin lesions,” the health department says. “Rabies may also occur, though in very rare cases, through inhalation of virus-containing spray or through organ transplants.”
Children are at greatest risk because they’re most likely to play with dogs. This has been confirmed by the United Nations health agency, which said that up to 60% of rabies cases occur in people less than 15 years of age.
But how can you tell if an animal is rabid? “A common clue is a sudden change of behavior, like drooling, unprovoked aggression, biting, aimless running and difficulty breathing,” says Dr. Silvius Alon, a veterinarian. However, some infected animals may become paralyzed or die suddenly without showing signs of illness.
If possible, any dog that bites a person should be confined and observed. “If the dog remains healthy for ten to 14 days, it’s safe to assume it’s rabies-free,” says Dr. Miranda. If the animal does show symptoms, the owner should contact the local health department or a veterinarian immediately and the dog should be humanely put down.
The best defense once you are bitten or scratched by a dog or cat is vaccination. If you are from the town, you can immediately go directly to your health centers.
