Laguna factory worker dies of rabies after missing vaccine doses

A 31-year-old factory worker from Cabuyao, Laguna, died of rabies on May 18, nine months after a dog bite and receiving only one of the three recommended vaccine doses.

Janelo Limbing received the first anti-rabies shot after the August 2024 incident in Cavite, where he was bitten on the hand and lost part of his fingernail.

The dog reportedly showed rabies symptoms the same day and was euthanized.

Limbing paid P2,500 for a single vaccine dose but skipped the remaining doses due to work-related concerns.

Symptoms appeared on May 15, starting with fever and escalating to severe neurological signs including difficulty swallowing, disorientation, and fear of wind and water.

An initial hospital visit led to a misdiagnosis of acid reflux before he was admitted to Cabuyao Hospital and referred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), where he died within hours.

His partner, Eva Peñalba, documented his final moments as a cautionary reminder of rabies' fatal toll.