Rabies awareness

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Rabies remains an endemic disease in our country. It is caused by a virus found in the saliva of infected animals. All warm-blooded animals can get rabies, and some may serve as reservoirs of the virus.

Statistics show that last year, the Philippines was number four in the world in terms of death caused by rabid dog bites, with approximately 300 to 500 deaths every year.

For the record, Iloilo ranked number one in the country as the highest cases of rabid dog cases. For the region, Bohol holds the number one spot, according to the Provincial Veterinary Office reports.

Health officials are particularly concerned about rabies in dogs because dogs are often in close contact with people. In Dumaguete City, there are more than 10,000 dogs and the ideal dog population should only be 5,000.

There are still countless irresponsible dog owners in the city, who do not give enough food, vaccinations or attention to their pet dogs. However, human deaths in the province went down to only two persons last year, compared to previous years when it consistently had six deaths.

To be able to control the spread of rabies, all local government units in the province must be vigilant and follow strict implementation of anti-rabies eradication program and should exert more efforts to curb the rise of rabies incidence, and especially human deaths.

Though some efforts have been exerted to reduce rabies incidence in the province, there is still great need for dog owners to also cooperate and have their dogs vaccinated, and also to be more vigilant in seeing to it that the anti-rabies eradication program of the government is fully and consistently implemented.*