Uptick in animal bite cases reported in baguio

The Summer Capital is seeing an increasing trend in animal bite cases for the past three years according to Dr. Khecy Colas of the City Health Services Office- Animal Bite Treatment Center (CHSO-ABTC).

During the city’s rabies prevention and stray dog control committee meeting, Feb. 9, at the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVA0), she said the CHSO-ABTC has catered to a total of 11,303 cases as of December 31, 2021.      

Colas said last year had the highest number of cases with 4,2019 as compared to 3,278 and 3,806 cases in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Of the total number of animal bite cases, 11,009 were Baguio residents while 294 were transients, she said.

She stressed, however, that no human death due to rabies was recorded in the city for the past four years.

Rabies is a contagious and fatal viral disease of dogs and other mammals that causes madness and convulsions, transmissible through the saliva to humans.

Colas said that while there was an increasing trend of animal bites in the city for the past three years, there was a decreasing trend among transient cases.

“The increase is probably attributed to the ongoing (Covid-19) pandemic which limits movement of people hence more chances of being bitten by pets. With the pandemic, that was also noted in the increase of pet ownership.  On the other hand, due to increasing animal bite centers outside the city and also still with the limitation of movement, transient cases went down,” she said.

Colas said the three-year data compiled by her office shows that dog bites are still the highest with 9,201 as compared to cat bites with 1,963 and monkey/pig bites with 23. – Gaby B. Keith