Catanduanes--An intensified rabies elimination campaign of the provincial government here has reeled off Tuesday (March 31) in the bid to attain a rabies-free Catanduanes by 2012.
In time for the Rabies Awareness Month on March, Gov. Joseph Cua, along with Vice Gov. Alfred Aquino, provincial and national government officials, joined Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Dr. Victor Atienza, DA Regional Executive Director Dr. Jose Dayao, and DOH regional director Dr. Nestor Santiago in the launching activities, including the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for a joint undertaking in carrying out the provincial antirabies campaign.
Provincial veterinarian Dr. Jane Rubio, in a meeting with the government officials, discussed the present situation on incidence of rabies and measures adopted by the local government in the prevention and control of rabies.
She noted that from 14 human rabies cases in 2000, the number went down to just 3 in 2007, while four cases were recorded during the first quarter of 2008, all of whom died.
Health officials however said that only one of the four had tested positive with the others deemed caused by rabies due to external manifestations while confined at the provincial hospital.
This year, two dogs from Sogod-Tibgao, Virac and San Jose, Panganiban tested positive for rabies after examination at the Regional Animal Diagnostic Laboratory.
The provincial government, meanwhile, will shell out some P615,000 for the purchase of dog catching gear, leashes and collars, rabies vaccine supplies, training of dog catchers, elimination and disposal of stray, unregistered and unvaccinated dogs, castration and spaying and the hiring of vaccinators.
Rabies vaccines worth P750,000 would be provided by BAI while municipal governments would provide counterpart funding totaling P468,000 while barangays will chip in P363,000 for the conduct of barangay assemblies, impounding of stray dogs, door-todoor vaccination and continuous monitoring of stray dogs.
The province’s 11 towns (excluding Gigmoto) had an estimated population of 15,398 dogs in 2007, with nearly 6,000 of them in Virac and San Andres. During the period from 2001 to 2007, 42 dogs had proven positive for rabies, with the highest at 16 in 2002. (PIA Catanduanes)