Iloilo records 51,831 animal bite cases in nine months

ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) recorded 51,831 animal bite cases from January to September 2026, with dog bites accounting for more than half of the reported incidents.

Of the total, 27,518 involved dog bites, 24,176 involved cat bites, and 127 involved other animals.

In a media interview on Nov. 10, IPHO chief Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon expressed concern over the high number of cases, saying many households still fail to practice responsible pet ownership.

“Our households still do not fully practice responsible pet ownership. Their dogs and cats should not roam freely because they could come into contact with other rabid dogs and become infected,” Quiñon said.

She said the high number of animal bite cases has also strained the province’s supply of anti-rabies vaccines.

Quiñon urged pet owners to have their dogs vaccinated annually, keep them within their premises, and provide them with adequate food and other basic needs.

She advised people bitten or scratched by dogs or cats to seek immediate medical attention at Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs), where the government provides free anti-rabies vaccination.

The province operates 26 ABTCs in rural health units and 13 more in district hospitals and at the Provincial Health Office, she said.

Quiñon added that people who previously received anti-rabies vaccination may qualify for booster doses after another animal bite, depending on their vaccination history and the applicable medical protocol.

The provincial government aims to make Iloilo rabies-free by 2030, with prevention and control efforts extending to the barangay level.

Quiñon identified Concepcion and Carles as among the municipalities pursuing rabies-free status.

She also cited Iloilo’s declared rabies-free island barangays as part of the province’s ongoing prevention efforts.

Animal bites and scratches can expose people to the rabies virus, which is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms develop.

The Department of Health recommends immediately washing bite or scratch wounds with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes before seeking medical assessment and appropriate treatment.

Health officials therefore urge bite victims to seek medical attention immediately rather than wait for symptoms to appear.

Quiñon said preventing animal bites remains the best way to reduce rabies transmission and ease pressure on the province’s vaccine supply.

“The best thing is to prevent getting bitten,” she said.