Over 160T dogs in Iloilo vaccinated against rabies

A pet owner secures his dog as the canine is getting an anti-rabies vaccine shot in Iloilo City. This Sept. 28, 2018 is World Rabies Day. The theme is “Rabies: Share the Message, Save a Life.” In the Philippines, dogs account for 98 percent of rabies infection, cats account for the remaining two percent, according to the Department of Health. PN PHOTO

ILOILO – A total of 160,691 dogs in this province have been vaccinated against rabies since January this year.

This was 64.9 percent of the total 247,526 dog population in Iloilo, according to Dr. Darel Tabuada of the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office (PVO).

Last year, the dog vaccination rate was at 59 percent or 150,484 dogs vaccinated out of the 251,481 dog population then.

The municipality of Oton had the highest dog vaccination rate – 72.3 percent or 12,268 dogs.

Next to Oton was Janiuay (83.3 percent or 11,829 vaccinated dogs) and Cabatuan (84.6 percent or 10,745 vaccinated dogs).

On the other hand, the town with the lowest dog vaccination rate was Alimodian at three percent or 4,621 dogs vaccinated.

Tabuada said this could be due to the lack of manpower to reach out to more dog owners.

The provincial dog vaccination goal is 70 percent of the total dog population, said Tabuada.

Meanwhile, the PVO has so far recorded 54 rabies-positive dogs. These were discovered via fluorescent antibody tests conducted on the heads of dogs that showed signs of rabies infection, said Tabuada.

Ang 54 rabid dogs were from the following towns:

* Santa Barbara – nine

* San Miguel – five

* Alimodian, Maasin, Anilao, and Pavia – three each

* Cabatuan, Miag-ao, Zarraga, Lambunao, Dingle, Janiuay, and Oton – two each

* Leganes, San Joaquin, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, San Enrique, Calinog, Dingle, Leon, and Dumangas – one each

Tabuada urged local government units to widen their respective dog vaccination programs.

Vaccines (17,067 vials) from the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture released to them must be used before these expires on December 2018, he stressed.

The 17,067 vials could vaccinate 170,670 dogs, said Tabuada.

The PVO on its own also procured 650 vials of anti-rabies vaccines that could cover 6,500 dogs./PN

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