BACOLOD City — The City Health Office (CHO) here conducted a contact tracing in Barangay 35 following the death of a 25-year-old woman due to a suspected case of human rabies.
Dr. Grace Tan, chief of the CHO’s Environmental Sanitation Division, the woman, a resident of Barangay 35, died on May 25 after being confined at a government hospital on May 24. She had previously been bitten by a dog in March this year in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, where she was working as a house helper.
The CHO is tracing individuals who may have come into close contact with the patient before her death to gather critical information and administer preventive measures.
“When we spoke to her partner, he said he had no knowledge of the dog bite, as the patient never told him,” Tan said.
Despite this, the CHO is providing prophylaxis and anti-rabies treatment to the partner as a precaution. Others identified as having had close contact with the patient will receive the same treatment.
Tan clarified that isolation is not required for those exposed, as human-to-human rabies transmission is extremely rare.
“Contact tracing is a precautionary measure to prevent any possible transmission,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the CHO is coordinating with the City Veterinary Office to intensify its campaign on responsible pet ownership.
“This is a critical time to remind the public not to ignore animal bites,” Tan emphasized.
She urged anyone bitten by animals to immediately seek treatment at the nearest Animal Bite Treatment Center./PN
