Woman at city health died of TB, not rabies

Cebu City Health officer Fe Cabugao yesterday clarified that the 40-year-old woman who died while waiting to be administered a shot of the anti-rabies vaccine at the Animal Bite Section died of tuberculosis, not of the rabies virus.

Cabugao said that Visitacion Meting's autopsy report revealed that she died of TB and not of the rabies virus, contrary to what was reported earlier by her relatives.

City veterinarian Alice Utlang also confirmed this after verifying reports from Animal Bite Section head Susana Adlawan.

"Kun imong tan-awon ang iyang postura, daut na kaayo ug masakiton. Unya sa among pakisusi, among nasayran nga napaakan diay siya (Meting) ug iro niadtong November pa sa kamot, pero wala lang makadulot," Utlang said.

Homicide investigators who conducted a probe at the city health office identified the victim as a native of Palompon, Leyte who temporarily resided in Mahayahay, Mabolo, Cebu City.

Visitacion became unconscious while she was at the Animal Bite section where her son asked the assistance of a staff to administer a shot of the anti-rabies vaccine on his mother who was bitten by a dog last November.

Meantime, Utlang urged officials in barangays where cases of dog bites are high, like barangays Guadalupe, Mambaling, Talamban and Sambag II to strengthen their campaign against stray dogs.

Last year, four animals in barangay Guadalupe were reportedly found with rabies virus. Three cases each were recorded in Mambaling and Talamban, while Sambag II had two cases.

The other year, barangay Kinasang-an posted highest in rabies cases with three. Barangays Talamban, Guadalupe, Capitol and Tisa had two rabies cases each. - Ramil V. Ayuman