A 9-year-old boy from Malapatan, Sarangani died of rabies after being bitten by a stray dog. On May 18, 2025, while playing, he was bitten by a dog but did not immediately tell his parents, so he was not given proper treatment.
The situation worsened on June 9, when rabies symptoms began to appear, such as fear of water, weakness, and hallucinations. At that point, only one dose of anti-rabies vaccine had been administered, but according to the health office, it was too late.
According to Dr. Alvin Alejandro of the Sarangani Provincial Health Office, once the rabies virus has reached the brain, it cannot be cured no matter how much money you spend. "The patient will definitely die," the doctor said.
After the incident, it was learned that the dog was slaughtered and eaten by nearly 30 residents. As a result, all those who ate it were quarantined and vaccinated against rabies as a precaution.
This incident is a reminder that animal bites should be reported immediately and vaccinations should be completed to prevent such tragedies.
