RP can be rabies-free even before 2020 target - health official
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines could be rid of rabies problem even before the 2020 target, the government said Monday.
Dr. Victor Atienza, assistant director of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry, said this as he noted the zero rabies case reported in the province of Siquijor for the last 10 years.
“With this development, we are optimistic to meet our target earlier than 2020, especially with the passage of Republic Act 9482 last year,” Atienza said during the celebration of the World Rabies Day held at the Annabels Restaurant in Quezon City.
Under the Anti-rabies Act of 2007, dogs must be vaccinated annually and registered with the local government units. It also prohibits pet owners from allowing their dogs to roam outside their house.
The last recorded rabies cases in Siquijor were in 1987.
Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of Health, said rabies is a “neglected disease that is 100 percent fatal but 100 percent preventable.”
Dogs walk their humans
Oliveros said the Philippines at present ranked 6th among countries with highest reported incidents of rabies in the world, an improvement from its 3rd position in 2000.
“We are actually able to make good progress in terms of ranking ….. We hope that this will continue. None of (rabies-related) deaths should need to occur as effective interventions have been available for decades,” she said.
In 2007, Bicol posted the highest number of rabies cases with 41, followed by Central Luzon with 40; Calabarzon, 38; Cagayan Valley, 23; and Central Visayas, 22.
By province, Camarines Sur was the highest with 21, followed by Cagayan, 16, and Nueva Ecija, 12. Bulacan and Bohol had 10 cases each.
Rabies can be passed from animals, whether wild or domesticated through trans-dermal bite, scratch by an infected animal or saliva comes in direct contact with a victim’s mucosa or fresh skin lesion. - GMANews.TV
At the WORLD RABIES DAY 2008 in Boni high Street, Taguig City
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