There were 10 confirmed cases of rabies in Negros Occidental last year with no death reported, Adelardo Mondia Jr., Provincial Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory head, said yesterday.

Mondia said five of these rabies cases were from Bacolod City while others are from the cities of Sipalay and Victorias and in Candoni town.

He said 26 heads of dogs suspected to be rabid were sent to their laboratory for testing last year while there were 26 dog bites recorded.

Mondia added that the number of confirmed rabies cases in the province last year is bigger than that of 2012 with only eight rabies cases, and two human deaths from Escalante City and Pulupandan town.

For the last eight years, it was in 2006 that Negros Occidental had the highest number of rabies with 36 cases, PVO records show.

Mondia said they expect the number to increase especially in March to May, the months considered as the mating season of dogs.

To curb the further spread of rabies in the province, PVO is conducting a massive educational campaign and free vaccination drive in the towns and cities.

Mondia advised those bitten by dogs and cats to immediately seek medical attention. He also urged pet owners to be responsible.

Under Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, pet owners are required to have their dog vaccinated regularly against Rabies and maintain a registration card that will contain all vaccinations conducted on their dog, for accurate record purposes, submit their dogs for mandatory, registration and maintain control over their dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any Public Place without a leash.

Pet owners are also advised to be responsible by providing their dog with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter, within 24 hours, report immediately any dog biting incident to the concerned officials for investigation, or for any appropriate action and place such dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian and assist the dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim's injuries.

In Manila, the Animal Bite Center at the San Lazaro Hospital is overflowing with people bitten by cats and dogs.

Since January 2, the hospital has been attending to 1,000 patients a day, including those returning for their second and third doses of anti-rabies vaccine.*APN

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