CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is stepping up efforts to reduce the number of rabies-related cases in the province.
Dr. Voltaire Basinang, provincial veterinarian, said they will conduct free vaccination for dogs and cats in several barangays in Pandi and Balagtas starting on Tuesday until Friday.
“We are trying to reach out to all in order to reduce the rabies-related cases in the province,” he said.
Aside from this, Basinang said the PVO will also coordinate and tap barangay officials to disseminate information, education, and communication campaigns that would help encourage fellow Bulakeñyos to become responsible pet owners.
“We want to reduce and eventually eradicate stray dogs in our communities through teaching the residents the proper way to take care of their pet animals,” he said.
Basinang further said that Bulacan now ranked ninth from its previous seventh place among the provinces with highest records of animal bite cases nationwide.
PVO records showed that 25 dogs were positively diagnosed with rabies last year and eight dogs during the first quarter of 2018.
Moreover, five deaths were recorded in 2017 while six people died in 2018.
Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, meanwhile, said the initiative is part of the health program of the provincial government.
Last February, Alvarado issued a letter that mandated every municipality in the province to hire a municipal veterinarian and acquire dog pounds that can be home to stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals.
“We need this to make it more accessible to our provincemates. With this, there is no reason for them not being able to vaccinate their pets,” the governor said.
He also said the first two vaccinations for the post-exposure prophylaxis, a vaccine for human bitten or scratched by animals, are also given free at the Bulacan Medical Center.
“The provincial government has been continuously exerting efforts to decrease the number of rabies-related cases in the province while reminding pet owners to be responsible and have their pets vaccinated every year,” he added.
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects domestic and wild animals.
The virus can spread to humans through bites or scratches, usually through saliva, and is almost fatal once symptoms or clinical signs appear. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
