Ilocos Region urges rabies vaccination after animal bites

The Department of Health (DOH) in the Ilocos Region is urging people who are bitten by cats or dogs to get rabies vaccinations as soon as possible. This call to action comes after four rabies cases were reported in the region from January to March 21 this year. Dr. Rheuel Bobis, a DOH medical officer, spoke at a recent forum. He emphasized that the rabies vaccine should be administered within the 20 to 40 days following an animal bite. If symptoms of rabies appear, the infection is usually fatal and the vaccine will not work. Bobis also mentioned that three of the recent rabies victims did not receive the vaccine after being bitten. One person did not complete the necessary doses and also died. The number of vaccine shots required depends on how serious the animal bite is. The rabies vaccine can be obtained at accredited treatment centers, and it is covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). In 2024, there were 19 recorded rabies cases in the Ilocos Region. Most of these cases were in Pangasinan.