Rabies cases rise in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — Rabies cases in the first eight months of this year has soared to 24, the highest number of cases of such in Cebu City in the past five years.

Data from the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) showed that these cases are from 17 barangays in the city.

A report by the Cebu City Public Information Office (PIO) also showed that Lahug logged the most number of cases with five, followed by Guadalupe with three, and Ermita with two cases.

Barangays Cogon Pardo, Basak, Tisa, Mabolo, Bulacao, Carreta, Tinago, Luz, Zapatera, Capitol Site, Sambag 1, Sambag 2, Sto. Nino, and Capitol Site, on the other hand, have a case each.

 In 2020, there were just three rabies cases noted but the number increased to 14 in 2021, went down to five in in 2022, and went up to nine in 2023 before soaring to 24 for the same period (January to August) this year.

 Dr. Alice Utlang, DVMF head and city veterinarian, however, is optimistic that the number of cases would go down in 2025.

Since she was back back as DVMF head June this year, the office has intensified its vaccination drive for dogs and cats, especially in areas with positive rabies cases and those with a vaccination rate of less than 80 percent.

She said DVMF is also now able to intensity its vaccination drive after training barangay workers and even barangay officials themselves how to do it.

The DVMF is also conducting its “Rabies Control Program” through information and education campaign, vaccination, and population control.

Utlang said Cebu City is the lone city in the country that has fully implemented the “Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return” scheme, where stray dogs are caught, neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to where they were found, instead of of impounding them and later on euthanizing them.

 With this program, she said, the number of vaccinated, spayed, and neutered cats and dogs have also increased.

“Hopefully, by next year, we will see the result. Mao na nga we are confident nga tungod sa kaso (sa rabies) nag-massive gyud ta’g vaccination,” she told the PIO.

 Utlang said, it is easy to identify vaccinated and neutered dogs and cats, as they are already ear-notched—right ear for females and left ear for males.

Utlang, though, said that they still resort to mercy killing, but in a humane way, on dogs that are dying or afflicted with already incurable diseases.

 “Why do we have to punish the dog, why not punish the owner? It’s the owner’s fault, it’s not the dog’s fault. The reason also why we do CNVR because it is stated in our ordinance and then we have to co-exist with these animals,” she said.

 Abandonment of pets is punishable under the Animal Welfare Act and is backed by City Ordinance 2526, or the Animal Welfare Ordinance of 2019. (CEBU NEWS)