The City Animal Bite Center at the City Health Services Office said animal bite incidents last year increased by four percent compared to the previous year.
Agnes Johana Abad, City Animal Bite Center nurse, said last year there were 4,537 residents and 34 transients treated in the clinic for animal bites, which is 3.97 percent higher compared to the 4,219 animal bites recorded in the previous year.
She said most of the animal bites the patients sustained were from pet dogs and stray animals.
Abad said the sudden increase in animal bite cases in the city is due to the easing up of the community quarantine restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
From 2018 to 2022, the center recorded 20,353 animal bites, with 2018 recording the highest at 5,482 animal bites.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the city recorded 3,806 animal bites and 3,278 animal bites pre-pandemic.
The Irisan District Health Center reported the highest number of animal bites last year with 401, followed by the Lucban DHC with 354, Pinsao DHC – 321, Atab – 300, and Asin – 268.
DHC’s with the lowest number of animal bites cases were the Mines View, with 140, followed by Quirino Hill, with 116, and Scout Barrio – 93. – PIO release
April 26, 2024
