MARILAO, Bulacan— Increasing incidents of dog bites alarmed residents here as five persons were bitten in just two days.
Two of the victims are students, one of whom was bitten by a stray rabid dog inside a school ground, while the other was just outside the campus.
The victims who are all residents of Barangay Ibayo here were identified as Jerome Miguel Mape, 6, and Bing Enriquez, 7, both students of Barangay Ibayo Elementary School; Pedrito Sabatin, 58, a jeepeney driver; Irene Abordo, 21, while the last one remain unidentified.
Rebecca Bulaong, the principal of Barangay Ibayo Elementary School said that the incident is alarming noting that both teachers and students are now scared.
“Nakakaalarma ang insidente dahil lima katao ang nakagat sa loob lamang ng dalawang araw, kaya parang nagkaphobia ang mga teacher at estudyante namin,” she said.
Bulaong said that the first incident occurred around 9:50 on Monday morning while kinder one students including Mape were leaving the school.
“Nakaawang yung gate ng school kaya nakapasok yung asong ulol,” she said and has ordered the repair of the steel gate yesterday.
This was affirmed by Sabatin who said he was first bitten by the stray dog on the edge of his maong pants.
“Hindi naman ako nasugatan nung kagatin ako habang ginagawa ko yung jeep ko sa harap ng school, pero ilang minuto lang ay nakagat na si Bing doon sa tapat ng bahay nila,” Sabatin said referring to Enriquez who didn’t attend his grade one class that day.
The stray dog sped inside the school ground and bit Mape who was then waiting for his sister.
Sabatin said that the he followed the dog inside the school with a stick and saw that it was looking for another victim, when it saw him and jumped on him.
While struggling with the dog, Sabatin was bitten on the chest and on his right arm.
Local village watchmen hunted the dog and were able to catch it alive, but the dog died hours later.
Its head was sent to Philippine Animal Health Center in University of the Philippines-Diliman and was found positive for viral antigen after a fluorescent anti-body test (FAT).
Councilor Allan Aguilar and Evelyn Agno, the chairperson of Barangay Ibayo said that they have conducted anti-rabies campaign to reduce the incidents of dog bites.
They said that there is even an existing municipal and barangay ordinance that mandates dog owners for safe keeping of their pets and regular vaccination.
However, not too many dog owners were complying with the requirements of the law.
This was affirmed by Dr. Juvy Cuyugan-Aguilar, a dog bite specialist.
Cuyugan-Aguilar said that there is an unusual increase of dog and other animal bites in the province this year.
Records obtained from Cuyugan-Aguilar showed that 387 animal bite cases they treated from July to September this year, compared to 216 cases from July to October last year.
“I would like to think that increase of treated cases was due to awareness of people on the existence of the Bulacan Animal Bite Clinic, but records could also mean that there is less responsible ownership among pet owners, thus the increase of animal bite cases,” she said.
She reminded animal bite victim to seek immediate medical help when bitten, instead of going to albularyos and tawaks.
“Just thoroughly wash the animal bite with soap and water, then go to the nearest doctor for treatment,” Cuyugan-Aguilar said.
She said that animal bite victim today only undergo four treatment sessions that last for a month instead of the usual five treatment session that used to last up to 90s days.
“After four treatment sessions, we guarantee full protection of the patient,” Cuyugan-Aguilar said.
Two of the victims are students, one of whom was bitten by a stray rabid dog inside a school ground, while the other was just outside the campus.
The victims who are all residents of Barangay Ibayo here were identified as Jerome Miguel Mape, 6, and Bing Enriquez, 7, both students of Barangay Ibayo Elementary School; Pedrito Sabatin, 58, a jeepeney driver; Irene Abordo, 21, while the last one remain unidentified.
Rebecca Bulaong, the principal of Barangay Ibayo Elementary School said that the incident is alarming noting that both teachers and students are now scared.
“Nakakaalarma ang insidente dahil lima katao ang nakagat sa loob lamang ng dalawang araw, kaya parang nagkaphobia ang mga teacher at estudyante namin,” she said.
Bulaong said that the first incident occurred around 9:50 on Monday morning while kinder one students including Mape were leaving the school.
“Nakaawang yung gate ng school kaya nakapasok yung asong ulol,” she said and has ordered the repair of the steel gate yesterday.
This was affirmed by Sabatin who said he was first bitten by the stray dog on the edge of his maong pants.
“Hindi naman ako nasugatan nung kagatin ako habang ginagawa ko yung jeep ko sa harap ng school, pero ilang minuto lang ay nakagat na si Bing doon sa tapat ng bahay nila,” Sabatin said referring to Enriquez who didn’t attend his grade one class that day.
The stray dog sped inside the school ground and bit Mape who was then waiting for his sister.
Sabatin said that the he followed the dog inside the school with a stick and saw that it was looking for another victim, when it saw him and jumped on him.
While struggling with the dog, Sabatin was bitten on the chest and on his right arm.
Local village watchmen hunted the dog and were able to catch it alive, but the dog died hours later.
Its head was sent to Philippine Animal Health Center in University of the Philippines-Diliman and was found positive for viral antigen after a fluorescent anti-body test (FAT).
Councilor Allan Aguilar and Evelyn Agno, the chairperson of Barangay Ibayo said that they have conducted anti-rabies campaign to reduce the incidents of dog bites.
They said that there is even an existing municipal and barangay ordinance that mandates dog owners for safe keeping of their pets and regular vaccination.
However, not too many dog owners were complying with the requirements of the law.
This was affirmed by Dr. Juvy Cuyugan-Aguilar, a dog bite specialist.
Cuyugan-Aguilar said that there is an unusual increase of dog and other animal bites in the province this year.
Records obtained from Cuyugan-Aguilar showed that 387 animal bite cases they treated from July to September this year, compared to 216 cases from July to October last year.
“I would like to think that increase of treated cases was due to awareness of people on the existence of the Bulacan Animal Bite Clinic, but records could also mean that there is less responsible ownership among pet owners, thus the increase of animal bite cases,” she said.
She reminded animal bite victim to seek immediate medical help when bitten, instead of going to albularyos and tawaks.
“Just thoroughly wash the animal bite with soap and water, then go to the nearest doctor for treatment,” Cuyugan-Aguilar said.
She said that animal bite victim today only undergo four treatment sessions that last for a month instead of the usual five treatment session that used to last up to 90s days.
“After four treatment sessions, we guarantee full protection of the patient,” Cuyugan-Aguilar said.
