Iloilo Records Over 16,000 Animal Bites in Q1 2025

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has reported 16,210 animal bite cases in the first quarter of 2025.

Of these, 8,230 involved dog bites and 7,944 were from cat bites.

More than 90 percent of the victims completed their rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

No human rabies deaths have been reported so far this year, but health authorities remain on alert due to the persistently high number of cases.

In comparison, Iloilo logged 70,405 animal bite cases and five rabies deaths in 2024; 72,805 cases in 2023; 46,308 in 2022; 40,198 in 2021; and 34,692 in 2020.

Dr. Rodney Labis, Provincial Health Officer I, said the province’s rabies prevention and control program aligns with the policies of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) under the Department of Agriculture.

“Our campaign does not solely focus on equipping health facilities to provide rabies vaccines,” Labis said.

“It also encompasses responsible pet ownership and addressing the animal-related aspects of the issue.”

The province now has 34 Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs), up from only 19 in 2020.

These are housed in 21 rural health units (RHUs) and primary care facilities (PCFs), along with 13 district hospitals.

Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, head of the IPHO, voiced concern over the growing demand for vaccines due to the surge in animal bite incidents.

“Given the high number of daily cases, no matter how many vaccines we procure, the supply remains inadequate,” Quiñon said.

“We urge all households and pet owners to take responsibility by vaccinating their pets and ensuring they do not roam freely.”

She stressed the need for community involvement to help the province reach its goal of becoming rabies-free by 2030.

“At present, only 25 local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo have established Municipal Rabies Control Committees (MRCCs),” she added.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) launched a mass dog vaccination campaign from February to April, aiming to immunize 70 percent of the province’s dog population, now at 367,907.

In 2024, the PVO vaccinated over 283,000 dogs—87.37 percent of the total 324,764 dog population—exceeding its 70 percent target.

This year, the PVO allocated PHP9 million for vaccines and supplies, including about 21,000 vials of rabies vaccine, enough to immunize 210,000 dogs across the province.