Fur parents and their various pets participate in the Pet Caravan in Valenzuela City on February 24, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Following rabies-related deaths that recently went viral on social media, the Department of Health says pet owners have a big role in curbing animal-bite cases and potential deaths from the virus.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, at the sidelines of the launch of the Patient Appointment System in San Lazaro Hospital, called on pet owner to exercise responsibility.

“Rabies is a problem of pet owners. All pet owners should have their dogs vaccinated,” he said.

But the health chief admits that the public must also be informed of the risk of rabies from stray dogs.

“We have 13 million stray dogs. Dapat kino-communicate yan na huwag lumapit sa stray dogs and cats,” he said.

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Based on the Animal Welfare Act of 2007, local governments must procure their own anti-rabies vaccines for animals which must be administered to strays. Domestic pets must also be brought to veterinary offices and clinics by their owners to receive the jab.

Meanwhile, ensuring the availability of anti-rabies vaccines for humans falls under the DOH. Herbosa says there is ample supply of vaccines for humans. LGUs must also ensure they have enough supply in bite centers, something that not every LGU is able to do.

“The LGUs have to buy so they end up going to the DOH, to San Lazaro. I have 4,000 patients waiting here, and when you ask them where they came from, from far away LGUs.”

Humans can contract the virus through bites and scratches from an infected animal. Experts have earlier said that the incubation period of rabies can range between one to three months. Individuals should get vaccinated within this period because rabies is 100 percent.

Once symptoms like fever, hydrophobia (fear of water) and ancraophobia (fear of wind), the disease is irreversible as the virus has already reached the brain and is sure to lead to death.