Manila  - Philippine health authorities on Friday urged dog owners to put their pets on a leash to prevent them from roaming the streets unattended in a campaign against rabies.

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said owners should also ensure that their dogs have been vaccinated against rabies, which kill up to 500 people in the Philippines annually.

"Owners should not allow their dogs to roam the streets, especially now that it's summer and children frequent the streets to play," he said. "Dogs should be put on a leash."

Villaverde said the Philippines has one of the highest incidents of human rabies cases in the world with 98 per cent of the cases caused by dog bites.

More than half the victims are children under 15, he added.

Villaverde said the Department of Health was coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to ensure vaccination of dogs and other animals that could transmit the disease to people.

He said the Health Department is also working on setting up additional animal bite centres around the country where the public can bring victims for treatment. (dpa)