By Erwin Nicavera/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental has stepped up its efforts to reduce, if not eliminate rabies, with the implementation of the Rabies Control Action Plan for 2019.
Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said Monday there is a need to formulate a risk-based map for rabies vaccination based on the occurrence of recorded rabies cases.
Identification of high-risk barangays in every locality will also be conducted, he added.
In 2018, canine rabies cases in the province increased by 50 percent, totaling 33 from only 22 in 2017.
There were seven human deaths in the past year.
Starting this month, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is conducting an inventory of available canine rabies vaccine in every local government unit (LGU) and checking if the towns and cities have allocated funds for vaccine procurement this year.
“We will formulate a vaccination plan prioritizing first the high-risk barangays followed by medium to low-risk areas,” Decena said.
In February, the PVO will start presenting the rabies situation in the province and encourage support for the program during the barangay, municipal and city council meetings.
The PVO will also lobby for the allocation of budget for the procurement of canine rabies vaccines and pre-exposure vaccination of paravets, as well as push for the convening of the Local Rabies Control Committee to strengthen the implementation of massive dog vaccination and stray dog control.
To engage community involvement, the veterinary office will organize dog owners in every LGU mainly to encourage support for its education and information campaign.
Decena said the PVO will conduct massive dog vaccination in the surrounding barangays that serve as buffer zones to limit the spread of rabies infection.
Dogs that cannot be handled by their owners during vaccination will be recorded and subjected to impounding.
For control of stray dog population, Decena said catching and impounding of animals will be intensified and there will be termination of impounded dogs in accordance with the provision of Republic Act 8485 or Animal Welfare Act.
