ODIONGAN: A multi-sector rabies-eradication initiative spearheaded by the provincial government has vaccinated around 10,000 of the estimated 20,000 domesticated dogs targeted in this province.
In an interview on Thursday, Mitch Famaran, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) point person, said the ‘One Time Big Time’ vaccination drive was originally scheduled to take place from May 6 to 10, but the effort is being extended until May 17 as inoculating the large number of animals has proven laborious.
Famaran admitted that this came in response to an ongoing rabies outbreak in the province, which, however, has not been officially declared.
She said the free anti-rabies shots are currently being administered on animals in Tablas Island, within which the province’s economic center of Odiongan is located.
Famaran said this is a joint undertaking of government agencies including the PVO, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Department of Health Office, together with private sector partners like the Field Epide
miology Program Foundation (FEPF) and the Scotland-based University of Glasgow.
For her part, Dr. Mary Elisabeth Miranda, a public health veterinarian at the FEPF, said it was widely believed that rabies had already been eradicated in Romblon until a new case was recorded sometime in 2022.
Miranda said that since then, there have been at least 60 confirmed cases of rabies in animals and three rabies deaths in humans.
‘We encourage pet owners to have their dogs vaccinated. This is the best way to prevent the further spread of the virus. We are also urging people to become responsible pet owners. They should not let their pet dogs go loose so they cannot come into contact with stray dogs,’ she told the Philippine News Agency.
Miranda said rabies may have returned to Romblon via fishermen from neighboring provinces who take their dogs along with them in their boats.
Meanwhile, Odiongan acting municipal agriculturist Joel Fadero revealed that on Wednesday morning, an individual was bitten by a rabid dog in t
his town.
He said that immediately after the incident, alarmed townsfolk slew the dog that was vicious and exhibiting apparent signs of rabies.
A rapid test conducted by his office on the dog’s cadaver confirmed that it was indeed rabid, Fadero added.
‘The dog’s brains will be sent off for further confirmation, but our test here showed it was positive (for rabies). The first dose of anti-rabies vaccine was already administered on the bite victim because time is of the essence following a bite from a rabid animal,’ he said.
Fadero said the Municipal Agriculture Office has also been enlisted by the provincial government to assist in the inter-agency vaccination effort by administering the anti-rabies shots to targeted dogs and cats.
Source: Philippines News Agency