The World Health Organization recognizes rabies as a deadly, yet preventable disease. Rabies – a viral condition that occurs in more than 150 countries and territories – is usually 100% fatal once symptoms appear. Dog-transmitted rabies accounts for about 99% of human rabies cases. It is estimated that 59,000 people die from rabies every year.Rabies is a disease of poverty, a disease of neglect. The world’s poorest are the most affected as they cannot afford treatment or transport for care. (WHO, 2017)

 

   In the Philippines, rabies is responsible for 200- 250 deaths every year. Bite exposures, through inoculation of saliva of an infected animal directly through the bite wound, are the most common mode of transmission of the rabies virus to humans. The most common reservoir of the rabies virus is the domestic dog. People most at risk live in rural areas where human rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins are not readily available or accessible. Poor people are at a higher risk, as the cost of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after contact with a suspected rabid animal is beyond the financial means of a poor Filipino family. Although all age groups are susceptible, rabies is most common in children below 15 years old. (NRPCP REPORT, 2012)

 

   In barangay San Jose, municipality of Mahayag, it was found out, through our house to house survey that the alarming number of dog bites and rabies cases are rooted in poor responsible pet ownership among the residents of the barangay. Data gathered from the primary survey have shown that only 53 out of 573 domestic dogs are vaccinated and 90% of the dog population within the barangay freely roam the streets. The primary data gathered also show that among 25 individuals who sustained penetrating bites from domestic dogs, only 3 went for post exposure prophylaxis and proper wound management. Furthermore, there were documented cases of canine and human rabies in the barangay within the last 5 years. As of the present, the remainder of unvaccinated dogs may continue to be vectors of rabies and remain to be an alarming health threat to the people of San Jose.