Rabies affliction feared in 1oo after flagellation ritual

Manila: Nearly 100 residents are feared to have contracted rabies after they took part in a self-flagellation ritual in Mabalacat town in Pampanga province last week.

According to a report published by the daily Philippine Star, Mayor Marino Morales had issued an alert for a possible outbreak of rabies after health authorities confirmed that a resident of the nearby Aguso town who also took part in the ritual died from the virus last April 11.

The victim, Eduardo Sese died last week after being bitten by a dog in February but what raises the concern of residents is that he might have contaminated several others because a blade he used to make superficial incisions in his skin as part of the flagellation ritual may have passed on the virus to the other participants.

Flagellation is an annual tradition in Pampanga and other parts of the Philippines.

The ritual is held not only to commemorate the hardships of Christ but also as a form of atonement by the flagellants for the "sins" they had committed.