ILOILO — The sheer volume of animal bite cases in Iloilo province has outpaced the supply of anti-rabies vaccines procured by the provincial government, leaving health authorities unable to cover all patients amid nearly 70,000 recorded incidents in 2025.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reported 69,562 animal bite cases last year, including one confirmed rabies death involving a male resident of Alimodian.
IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmanares-Quiñon acknowledged that the number of bite victims has exceeded the vaccine supply purchased by the provincial government.
She said that even when vaccines are available at Rural Health Units (RHUs) and Primary Care Facilities, supplies are limited and insufficient to cover all bite cases.
Of the total incidents recorded last year, cat bites and scratches topped the list with 35,614 cases, followed by dog bites at 33,809, while other animals accounted for 139 cases.
Female victims comprised the majority with 38,102 cases, compared to 31,460 cases among males.
Individuals 15 years old and above were the most affected at 43,697 cases, while those 15 years old and below accounted for 25,865 cases.
“Ang akon pangabay para indi kita magastuhan, mas manami gid nga ma-prevent naton nga makagat kita sang ayam ukon kuring. Kun may ara kita mga pets, kuring or ido ipabakunahan gid naton,” Quiñon said, stressing that prevention remains the most effective response.
She urged pet owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats, keep animals leashed or caged, and avoid letting them roam as strays.
Parents were likewise advised to closely supervise children to prevent bites and scratches.
The Iloilo provincial government currently operates 38 Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) — 13 in district hospitals, including the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town, and 25 in RHUs.
An additional 20 private ABTCs also offer treatment, but officials warned that vaccine availability remains tight.
Rabies: A Preventable but Deadly Disease
Rabies is a viral infection of the central nervous system that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It is transmitted through the bite, scratch, or saliva of an infected animal, most commonly dogs and cats.
Symptoms may include fever, headache, agitation, confusion, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, paralysis, and death.
Health officials emphasized that rabies is 100 percent preventable through:
* Immediate washing of wounds with soap and running water
* Prompt medical consultation and completion of post-exposure vaccination
* Regular vaccination of pets
* Avoiding contact with stray or aggressive animals
With vaccine supplies stretched thin, IPHO stressed that responsible pet ownership and bite prevention are now more critical than ever./PN
