MANILA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines is integrating rabies education in the curriculum of K-12 students in an effort to increase awareness of the infectious viral disease that kills thousands of people each year, mostly in Asia and Africa.
Rabies continues to be a public health problem in the Philippines. The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) said between 200 to 300 die of rabies each year. Nearly 99 percent of all rabies transmissions to humans are from dogs, it said.
The DOH said on Wednesday the integration of the rabies program in the K-12 program is needed, adding that almost 50 percent of animal bite victims are children below 15 years old.
"The rabies education is now officially incorporated in the curriculum of K-12 Program, making the Philippines as the first country in the world to do this initiative," the Department of Agriculture (DA) said in a statement.
K-12, from kindergarten to the 12th grade, indicates the number of years of publicly supported primary and secondary education in the country.
The DA said a total of 78 rabies lesson plans were developed and integrated into the following subjects: English, Filipino, health, values, math, science, physical education, and technology and livelihood.
"These lesson plans aim to contribute in the elimination of rabies in the country by educating the students on the proper behavior around animals, proper bite management and responsible pet ownership," the DA added.
A law called Republic Act No. 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 tasks the departments of health, agriculture, interior and local government, and education and other stakeholders in controlling rabies.
The Philippines aims to declare the country rabies-free by 2030.
Rabies is a human infection that occurs after a transdermal bite or scratch by an infected animal, like dogs and cats. It can be transmitted when infectious material, usual saliva, comes into direct contact with a victim's fresh skin lesions.
The DOH said rabies is considered a neglected disease, "which is 100 percent fatal though 100 percent 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 it is one of the most acutely fatal infections and it is responsible for the death of 200 to 300 Filipinos annually," the DOH said.
Packs of stray dogs are a common sight in Philippine streets, fuelled by public reluctance to sterilize pets. Some can be aggressive as they scrounge for food scraps in the garbage.
