Philippines Department of Health officials from Region 12 report nine human rabies cases from Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, 2014, making it a 80 percent increase compared to the same period in 2013.
According to a report in Minda News this weekend, The DOH-12’s regional epidemiology and surveillance unit only recorded five rabies cases and deaths from January to March last year.
Dr. Teogenes Baluma, Department of Health (DOH) Region 12 director said North Cotabato posted the highest number of rabies cases with four followed by Sultan Kudarat, three and South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces with one each.
All the cases involved bites from rabid dogs, in which four were pets. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page.
Region 12, aka Soccsksargen Region, includes the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
North of the Soccsksargen Region, the Visayan province of Negros Occidental has declared rabies outbreaks in five areas of the province, where nine cases were reported, with one fatality, according to a GMA News report today.
