Garlic can鈥檛 be used as first aid for animal bite 鈥� BAI
PHOTO FROM DA-BAI/FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Bureau of Animal Industry has debunked a myth that garlic can be used as a first aid when bitten by an animal.
Dr. Marie Shella Ordinario, head of the Animal Welfare Unit, shared this on Thursday during a Department of Health (DOH) media conference.
“That’s not true… Nakakasunog ng balat si garlic, so that’s not true. Tandaan po natin na unang-unang dapat gawin is hugasan yung naexpose na area,” she said.
(That’s not true… Garlic burns skin, so that’s not true. Let us remember that the first thing to do is to wash the exposed area.)
Ordinario said that the wound or scratch should be washed under with water and soap no longer than 15 minutes after contacting the animal. She underscored the importance of getting a post-exposure prophylaxis, like an anti-rabies vaccine.
She also encouraged responsible pet ownership where the physical and mental state of animals are well-taken care of. She said that this includes providing vaccinations, check-ups, shelter, food and other activities that can enhance pets’ growth and development.
“Maraming sakit ang magiging problema natin dahil sa hayop. Rabies, according to statistics, ang issue sa rabies ay responsible pet ownership. May may-ari, pero hindi bakunado. May may-ari pero pinapakawalan,” she added.
(Many diseases will become a problem because of animals. Rabies, according to statistics, is an issue of responsible pet ownership. There is an owner, but the pet is not vaccinated. There is an owner, but they let their pet on the loose.)
READ: DOH records 426 deaths due to rabies in 2024
The Department of Health (DOH) said that symptoms of rabies in humans include fever, weakness, and swelling of the wound. It can also lead to phobia in water or air as the disease worsens.
The DOH previously recorded 426 rabies-related deaths in 2024, noting that 41% of the total cases were due to unvaccinated pets, while 56% were accounted for animals with uncertain vaccination status.
Meanwhile, the agency logged 55 rabies cases from January 1 to March 1, 2025. This represented a 39% increase from the 90 cases reported from the same period last year.
READ: PhilHealth: Beware of rabies, avail of animal bite treatment package
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation previously encouraged its members to seek medical consultation for animal bite cases, reiterating that an animal bite package is available for them. The Animal Bite Treatment package increased from P3,000 to P5,850.
