Rabies cases in Aklan alarming BY VENUS G. VILLANUEVAKALIBO, Aklan - The rabies situation in Aklan is alarming. Last year alone, three Aklanons died due to rabies while early this year, one already died, a resident of Altavas, Aklan, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here.
The PHO also reported that 1, 172 Aklanons were bitten by dogs in 2006.
With this alarming situation, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET) here headed by Dr. Gervase Radislao is aggressively conducting awareness campaign in all municipalities on the danger of rabies, as well as for the full implementation of the existing Municipal Rabies Ordinance in the different towns through the attendance of OPVET staff to Sangguniang Bayan sessions to campaign for the full implementation of the Rabies Ordinance and gather support for the existing Provincial Ordinance.
The Provincial Ordinance provides for the elimination of stray dogs, compulsory leashing and caging of dogs, castration to regulate dog population and encouragement to owners to be responsible pet owners.
According to OPVET-Aklan, millions of pesos were already spent to eradicate rabies, but this problem still exists up to this time in Aklan.
Stray dogs, according to OPVET also caused countless fatal motorcycle accidents in the province for years. Besides, these stray animals scavenge for food, disturbing and scattering garbage in waste receptacles, have their droppings anywhere and some have skin diseases that might be transmitted to other dogs and eventually to humans.
This scenario could also affect Aklan’s booming tourism industry, according to OPVET.
Currently, Aklan has a total of 55, 312 heads of dogs and OPVET, under its Rabies Prevention and Control program targets to vaccinate 80% of these dogs to eliminate rabies and make Aklan a rabies-free province.
OPVET records show that only 7,671 dogs out of the total population, were vaccinated, or 13.8% out of the 80% target as the supply of vaccines is limited and most municipalities have no budget for this program. To attain the 80% targets, dogs vaccinated should number 44,249.
Besides attending SB sessions in Aklan towns to advocate for the full implementation of the Rabies Ordinance, other anti-rabies activities of OPVET now include conduct of public awareness / information dissemination to schools and municipalities, airing of rabies plugs, display of billboards and distribution of pamphlets / leaflets on the hazards of rabies.
With this alarming situation, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET) here headed by Dr. Gervase Radislao is aggressively conducting awareness campaign in all municipalities on the danger of rabies, as well as for the full implementation of the existing Municipal Rabies Ordinance in the different towns through the attendance of OPVET staff to Sangguniang Bayan sessions to campaign for the full implementation of the Rabies Ordinance and gather support for the existing Provincial Ordinance.
The Provincial Ordinance provides for the elimination of stray dogs, compulsory leashing and caging of dogs, castration to regulate dog population and encouragement to owners to be responsible pet owners.
According to OPVET-Aklan, millions of pesos were already spent to eradicate rabies, but this problem still exists up to this time in Aklan.
Stray dogs, according to OPVET also caused countless fatal motorcycle accidents in the province for years. Besides, these stray animals scavenge for food, disturbing and scattering garbage in waste receptacles, have their droppings anywhere and some have skin diseases that might be transmitted to other dogs and eventually to humans.
This scenario could also affect Aklan’s booming tourism industry, according to OPVET.
Currently, Aklan has a total of 55, 312 heads of dogs and OPVET, under its Rabies Prevention and Control program targets to vaccinate 80% of these dogs to eliminate rabies and make Aklan a rabies-free province.
OPVET records show that only 7,671 dogs out of the total population, were vaccinated, or 13.8% out of the 80% target as the supply of vaccines is limited and most municipalities have no budget for this program. To attain the 80% targets, dogs vaccinated should number 44,249.
Besides attending SB sessions in Aklan towns to advocate for the full implementation of the Rabies Ordinance, other anti-rabies activities of OPVET now include conduct of public awareness / information dissemination to schools and municipalities, airing of rabies plugs, display of billboards and distribution of pamphlets / leaflets on the hazards of rabies.
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