BACOLOD City – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has reported six rabies-related deaths in Negros Occidental on the first quarter of 2019.
PHO rabies nurse coordinator Rafael Marmolejo III said the three deaths were reported in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla; Barangay Ilijan, Bago City; and Barangay Batang, Himamaylan City in Jan., 2019.
The three other deaths in Feb. were reported in Barangay Caradio-an, Himamaylan City; Barangay Bulata, Cauayan; and in Sagay City, Marmolejo added.
In 2018, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) recorded 33 confirmed cases of canine rabies infection which is 33 percent higher compared to the cases recorded in 2017.
The Rabies Control Action lunched last month is a part of PVO’s constant and pro-active campaign about rabies, said provincial veterinarian Renante Decena.
The PVO also started the inventory of available canine rabies vaccine in every local government unit and checked they have correctly allocated funds for vaccine procurement, he added.
“We will formulate a vaccination plan prioritizing first the high-risk barangays followed by medium to low-risk areas,” Decena said. (With PNA/PN)
