The Oriental Negros Veterinary Office is aiming to make the province rabies-free by year 2010, PVO chief Antonio Mutia said yesterday.

Mutia said Governor Emilio Macias II has directed them to intensify the campaign against rabies, with the cooperation of local government units and he will be meet soon with local officials, especially those new in office, on the thrust of the government on rabies prevention.

Despite the need for personnel and funding, he said, the vision is attainable as long as those in government and the public, especially dog owners, will do their share. Since January, only one rabies fatality was reported to the PVO and this was in the town of Jimalalud.

Meanwhile, Mutia said the province will soon operate a rabies examination laboratory, with more than P1 million in equipment. He said two of his office staff and one from the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital who completed a week-long training at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine , will man the laboratory.*RA

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