Rabies cases in the Philippines have decreased by 39 percent this year compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Department of Health (DoH).

The DoH logged 55 cases of rabies from 1 January to 1 March, compared to 90 cases recorded during the same period last year.

In 2024, the Health Department recorded a total of 426 patients who contracted the zoonotic disease, all of whom died.

A total of 193 cases, or 45 percent, were caused by the saliva of domestic pets.

Of these, 41 percent were caused by pets that had not been vaccinated. Meanwhile, 56 percent were from animals with uncertain rabies vaccine status.

Fifty-six cases were recorded in Central Luzon, 35 in Calabarzon, and 43 in Soccsksargen.

From 235 cases during the 2020 pandemic, the number of rabies patients almost doubled by 2024, the DoH noted. Deaths due to rabies from 2020 to 2024 reached 1,750.

With this, DoH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized that rabies is dangerous and deadly, with a 100 percent fatality rate in 2024 cases.

“It can be contracted through a bite, scratch, or the saliva of an animal with rabies if it licks a person’s wound, eyes, nose, or mouth,” Herbosa explained in Filipino.

In 2024, the Health Department recorded a total of 426 patients who contracted the zoonotic disease, all of whom died.

Herbosa noted that the first symptoms of rabies often appear two to three months after exposure.

However, symptoms can appear within a few weeks or take up to a year, depending on the amount of virus that has entered the patient’s body and the point of entry, he added.

“In humans, symptoms of rabies include fever, weakness, and swelling of the wound. When it worsens, it can cause fear of water and air, confusion, and paralysis,” Herbosa said.

“As the virus spreads, it causes rapid swelling of the brain and spinal cord, leading to certain death,” Herbosa added.

To prevent rabies, Herbosa urged the public to ensure their pets are vaccinated annually, contact their veterinarian or local government for pet vaccinations, and avoid contact with unknown or aggressive animals.

In case of a bite or scratch, he advised immediately washing the wound with soap and running water and consulting the nearest health center or Animal Bite and Treatment Center.