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