Man dies of rabies 9 months after dog bite

A 31-year-old factory worker died of rabies on 18 May, nine months after being bitten by a dog and failing to complete the required post-exposure vaccination.

Janelo Limbing received only the first of the three recommended anti-rabies shots following the August 2024 incident in Cavite. At the time, he was bitten on the hand while reaching for a towel near a tied-up dog that suddenly lunged. The bite tore part of his fingernail.

The dog reportedly showed rabies symptoms the same day and was euthanized. Limbing paid P2,500 for a single vaccine dose at a private clinic but skipped the remaining doses due to work-related concerns.

Symptoms appeared on 15 May, starting with fever and escalating to severe neurological signs, including difficulty swallowing, disorientation, and fear of wind and water — classic indicators of rabies. An initial hospital visit led to a misdiagnosis of acid reflux. He was later admitted to Cabuyao Hospital and referred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa, where he died within hours.

His partner, Eva Peñalba, documented his final moments and shared them as a cautionary reminder of rabies’ fatal toll. In his last video message, Limbing urged others to stay safe and requested that his unborn child be named after him.