Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health

RABIES CONTROL
PROGRAM
What is Rabies ?

 Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted through the saliva or tissues

from the nervous system from an infected mammal to another
mammal.

 The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system causing severely
distressing neurological symptoms before causing the victim to die.

 Rabies is considered to be a neglected disease, which is 100% fatal

though 100% preventable. It is not among the leading causes of
mortality and morbidity in the country but it is regarded as a significant
public health problem because
(1) it is one of the most acutely fatal infection and
(2) it is responsible for the death of 200-300 Filipinos annually.
 Modes Of Transmission

 Bites from infected animals are the most common mode of transmission of
rabies to humans. Exposure to rabies may come from bites of infected dogs,
cats, other domestic and wild animals including bats. However, bites from rats,
rabbits, other rodents, reptiles and birds do not pose a risk for rabies infection.
 Non-bite exposures are less important and are infrequent modes of
transmission. However, scratches, open wounds or mucous membranes that
are licked by an infected animal, can be points of entry of the rabies virus and
these may be in the form of the following:

 Contamination of intact mucosa (eyes, nose, mouth, genitalia) with

saliva of infected animal;
 Licks on broken skin; and
 Inhalation of aerosolized virus in closed areas (e.g. caves with rabid
bats, laboratories for rabies diagnosis).
Symptoms include:
 Fever
 Headache
 Anxiety
 Confusion
 Difficulty swallowing
 Paralysis

Once a person develops the symptoms of rabies, the disease will be very
hard to treat. Most cases of rabies are fatal.

Fortunately, there are vaccines available that effectively prevent rabies

after an animal bite.
Department of Health

Vision:

“To Declare Philippines Rabies-Free by year 2020”

Goal:

“To eliminate human rabies by the year 2020”

Program Strategies:

1. Provision of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to all Animal Bite

Treatment Centers (ABTCs)

2. Provision of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to high risk individuals

and school children in high incidence zones

3. Health Education

4. Advocacy
March - Rabies Awareness Month
September 28 - World Rabies Day.
5. Training/Capability Building

6. Establishment of ABTCs by Inter-Local Health Zone

7. DOH-DA joint evaluation and declaration of Rabies-free islands

The DOH, together with the partner organizations/agencies, has already

developed the guidelines for managing rabies exposures. With the
implementation of the program strategies, five islands were already
declared to be rabies-free.
Partner Organizations/Agencies:

• Department of Agriculture (DA)

• Department of Education (DepEd)
• Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC)
• WHO/BMGF Rabies Elimination Project
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (RA 9482)

The Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (RA 9482) provides the

guidelines for the prevention and control of rabies in
the Philippines. Several agencies and persons are
tasked to do their respective jobs in a collective effort
to control rabies under a National Rabies Prevention
and Control Program.
TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT RABIES
THANK YOU 