ILOILO – This province recorded 32 canine rabies cases as of June 22.
These were from the towns of New Lucena (four), Miag-ao (three), San Miguel (three), Oton (two), Guimbal (one), San Joaquin (one), Igbaras (one), Pavia (one), Santa Barbara (two), Zarraga (two), Alimodian (two), Cabatuan (two), Janiuay (one), Lambunao (two), Pototan (one), Dumangas (one), Barotac Nuevo (one), Estancia (one), and Concepcion (one).
Dr. Darel Tabuada, head of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said to determine if a dog is rabid, its head would undergo laboratory testing at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6.
With the supervision of the DA or Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) personnel, the dog’s head will be cut when it shows symptoms of rabies after it bites a human.
“It is a protocol that once a dog, particularly a stray, has bitten a human, it will be caged and observed for 14 days. If it dies within 14 days, we cut off its head for laboratory testing. Meanwhile, other dogs indiscriminately biting are killed by barangay officials or police; we also recommend that these undergo laboratory testing,” explained Tabuada in Hiligaynon.
He said it is important to determine if the dog had rabies so the victim could be given proper medication, including an anti-rabies vaccine.
Tabuada added that once they receive a report from DA-6 that someone tested positive for rabies, the PVO immediately informs the concerned local government unit (LGU) to trace the bitten victim.
To prevent canine rabies, Tabuada encouraged all dog owners to get the anti-rabies vaccine, provided free by the LGUs.
The Iloilo provincial government targets vaccinating at least 70 percent, or 215,000 heads, of the 302,302 total dog population in the province.
“Once we vaccinate 70 percent of the total dog population, we could develop herd immunity,” Tabuada added.
As of June 22, the dog vaccination accomplishment in Iloilo reached 65.95 percent, or equivalent to 199,375 heads./PN
