ILOILO – There is no scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of the traditional practice of tandok in treating dog or cat bites that may be infected with rabies, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) clarified.
In fact, the practice may have negative health effects by delaying the administration of life-saving rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) or vaccines, according to Dr. Rodney Labis, head of IPHO’s Health Service Delivery Division.
“Tandok has no proof of helping in rabies treatment. Instead, it can have harmful effects on the wound and, if rabies is present, can result in death if the victim does not receive immediate rabies immunization,” Labis told Panay News.
Additionally, he said, there is an increased risk of further infections due to poor wound care associated with tandok, and victims may develop a “false sense of security” after undergoing the practice.
“As a result, the victims may not seek proper medical care, and if rabies virus is present from the animal bite, the virus will continue to infect the body as tandok has no effect on the virus. The symptoms of rabies will eventually appear, and the victim may die,” Labis said.
Labis clarified that while they have not personally observed tandok being performed, discussions with community and healthcare workers revealed that it involves a healer using either a carabao’s horn or a small bamboo tube with holes on both ends.
The healer would make small cuts on the wound with a blade to cause bleeding. Then he would “suck” the blood and, based on its appearance, try to determine whether the victim has rabies.
This practice, according to Labis, poses significant health risks and can complicate the victim’s condition.
What to do when bitten
He reminded the public that if bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, they should not seek tandok but instead wash the wound immediately with clean water and soap for 10 to 15 minutes.
The wound should not be allowed to bleed further but should be treated with Betadine or alcohol.
Victims should then go to the nearest health facility, such as a Rural Health Unit (RHU) or an Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC), for proper medical care, including tetanus prophylaxis and rabies immunization.
Iloilo Province has 32 government-managed ABTCs located in 13 district hospitals and 19 RHUs, including in municipalities such as Oton, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Alimodian, Pavia, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, Maasin, Dueñas, Ajuy, Concepcion, Lemery, San Dionisio, Leganes, Carles, Sara, Banate, Mina, and Batad.
Additional ABTCs are set to open in the municipalities of Igbaras, Tubungan, Guimbal, Leon, Tigbauan, Badiangan, and Balasan, said Labis.
In the past three years, there have been no recorded rabies-related deaths linked to tandok, according to the IPHO.
The last documented case was in 2021, when 12 human rabies deaths were associated with the practice. Following those, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed an anti-tandok ordinance in 2022, which bans the practice of tandok and imposes a minimum fine of P5,000 for anyone caught performing it.
Advocacy for Responsible Pet Ownership
In line with Rabies Awareness Month, themed “Rabies-Free na Pusa’t Aso, Kaligtasan ng Pamilyang Pilipino,” Labis urged pet owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats this month.
The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), in collaboration with Municipal Agriculture Offices (MHOs), has been conducting vaccination drives in barangays from February to April this year.
“If your pet is protected from rabies, you can be sure that the risk of rabies transmission to humans is minimized,” Labis explained.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. allocated P9 million this year to purchase approximately 21,000 vials of rabies vaccine, which are expected to vaccinate about 210,000 dogs across the province.
The PVO aims to achieve at least 70 percent dog vaccination coverage for 2025, surpassing last year’s achievement of 87.37 percent, with 283,755 dogs vaccinated out of a total population of 324,764.
In addition to the province-wide vaccination efforts, the IPHO is working closely with local government units to raise public awareness about rabies prevention. These initiatives aim to educate the public with correct information and encourage full participation in the provincial government’s campaign for a rabies-free Iloilo by 2030./PN
