Rabies cases increase in the Philippines

Abstract

The number of cases of rabies in the Philippines-which currently ranks fourth worldwide in incidence of the disease-is increasing, despite government promises to rid the country of the problem by 2020. In 1998, 362 Filipinos died of rabies, compared with 321 in 1997 and 337 in 1996. About 10 000 dogs are believed to be infected with the disease each year.The underlying problem is that public awareness of the disease remains poor and that dog owners are not taking up the offer of subsidised rabies immunisations, according to Dr Jose Abella, director of the Department of Health's Communicable Disease Control Service. However, another problem is that the government suspended its manufacture of rabies vaccine in 1996 when its biological production service was relocated. It is now trying to buy 10m pesos (£167 000) worth of the vaccine from international suppliers. There are only 42 000 doses of the vaccine in the country, which is not nearly enough to immunise a dog population of seven million.

Assessment of Risk of Possible Exposure to Rabies among Processors and Consumers of Dog Meat in Zaria and Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria

“…In rabid animals, the rabies virus confines mainly to the nerves and adipose tissues eventhough it can also be found in all parts of the body ( Srinivasan et al, 2005 ). Transmission is possible following consumption of carcasses of animals that died of rabies and also by consumption of raw dog meat ( Wallersein, 1999 ). No intervention is effective in stopping the disease after the onset of symptoms.…”

Furious Rabies after an Atypical Exposure

“…Slaughtering of dogs has been reported as a risk for rabies transmission in the Philippines and in China [ 32 , 33 ]. In January 2008, 30 people from the Philippines were reported to have received anti-rabies vaccination after having eaten the meat of a rabid dog [ 32 ].…”

Risk factors associated with travel to rabies endemic countries

“…The first case was that of a male patient from the Philippines. Between 320 and 590 human deaths caused by rabies (six per million population) were reported annually between 1990-99 in the Philippines (Wallerstein 1999). Of the 398 recorded human cases in 1999, all were traced to rabid dogs.…”