An elderly woman from Cauayan town died from rabies and seven members of her family are undergoing post-exposure treatment, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said yesterday.

Petronila Gente, who was bitten by a dog in Barangay Lumbia, Cauayan, in October died Saturday at the Kabankalan District Hospital, he said. She was buried Sunday in Cauayan, he added.

Gente's children and grandchildren who were exposed to her during her sickness, are undergoing post-exposure treatment, he said.

Non-bite exposures, which occur when an open cut in the skin or mucous membrane is exposed to the rabies virus, rarely lead to rabies but will need treatment, medical experts say.

Decena said Western Visayas ranked No. 1 in rabies cases nationwide in 2005.

The incidence of rabies in Negros Occidental in 2005 was 102, compared to 59 in 2004, he said. Decena expressed concern over a possible rise in rabies, especially in the Silay area, that had a low number of rabies vaccinations conducted in 2005, when only 48 percent of the total dog population was reached.

Bacolod is also considered a hotspot for rabies, he added.

Decena reminded the public to have their dogs vaccinated for rabies and not to eat dog meat.*CPG

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