Rabies cases in the country have significantly been reduced by 13 percent since 2007, the Department of Health (DoH) said on Sunday.

Health officials said they are still intensifying their efforts to achieve their target of further decreasing rabies cases by 2010.

In 2007, the DoH registered a total of 286 rabies cases nationwide. Last year, the figure went down to 248, posting a 13 percent difference in a span of 12 months.

The figure was based on the number of persons who consulted Animal Bite Centers (ABC) nationwide.

Dr. Raffy Deray, DoH program manager on rabies, said rabies resulting from dog and cat bites was consistently high in Bicol, Cagayan Valley, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon for the past two years.

He said this may be due to more rabies cases in the area followed by fewer people who are able to access ABCs and avail themselves of post-exposure prophylaxis or anti-rabies vaccine.

"Majority of bite cases belong to the less fortunate members of society," Deray said. "A lot of patients, 60 to 70 percent, are also not able to afford the complete course of treatment."

Deray also announced that the DoH is opening more ABCs to improve access to anti-rabies treatment.

The DoH official strongly discouraged the public against traditional anti-rabies "healing" and advised patients to seek medical consultation if bitten by animals.

He also advised pet owners to be responsible and keep their pets from wandering on the streets and to have them vaccinated against rabies.