The Muntinlupa City government warned the public of a rise in animal rabies cases in the city.
“Bilang babala sa mga mamamayan ng Muntinlupa, ipinagbibigay alam na merong naitalang kaso ng Rabies sa hayop sa mga nasabing lugar (As a warning to the citizens of Muntinlupa, we are hereby informed that there have been recorded cases of Rabies in animals in the said areas),” the Office of the City Veterinarian Muntinlupa City posted on Facebook.
It said animal rabies cases were recorded in Purok 2 in Barangay Cupang; Katarungan Village in Barangay Poblacion; Southville 3 housing project, Barangay Poblacion; Lakeview in Barangay Putatan; and Villa Carolina I Subdivision in Barangay Tunasan.
Microchipping and anti-rabies vaccination in Sucat, Muntinlupa in July 2024 (Photo from Office of the City Veterinarian Muntinlupa City)
“Bilang pagiingat, siguruhing bakunado ng Anti-Rabies ang inyong mga alagang aso at pusa at huwag hayaang pagala-gala sa kalsada o iba pang pampublikong lugar (As a precaution, make sure your pet dogs and cats are vaccinated against Rabies and do not let them roam the streets or other public areas),” the veterinarian’s office added.
The Department of Health said rabies “is a viral infection that is spread mainly through animal bites. It attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal; recovery is rare.”
In 2024, 426 rabies cases were recorded in the country and all of them died. It said 45 percent of the cases came from pets.
“It is caused by the rabies virus, which is spread almost always through infected saliva. This occurs most commonly through animal bites, but may also happen through scratches, abrasions and other similar circumstances that involve exposure to infected saliva (e.g. direct contact of eyes and the linings of the mouth and nose to infected saliva),” the DOH added.
The signs and symptoms of rabies, according to the DOH, are,
- Initial symptoms are similar to the flu, such as fever, headache, and general weakness.
- There can also be discomfort, pain, numbness, itchiness, or a prickling sensation at the bite site.
- As the disease progresses, patients may experience mental confusion, delirium, hallucinations, excessive salivation, and muscle weakness or paralysis.
- Two prominent symptoms after the initial illness include hydrophobia or the fear of water, and aerophobia or the fear of air. These happen when, after coming into contact with water (e.g. when drinking) or a draft of air, the patient’s muscles contract involuntarily and painfully.