A total of 130 dogs and cats got vaccines against rabies while 121 underwent neutering during the latest One-Time Big-Time (OTBT) program held by the Provincial Veterinary Office (ProVet) in Roxas from February 11 to 13.
The drive, which was coordinated by ProVet in partnership with the Roxas Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and local barangay authorities, intended to regulate the growing number of pets in the province and reduce the risk of rabies outbreaks at the same time.
Dr. Darius Mangcucang, who is the provincial veterinarian, stressed the significance of the initiative.
“Ang inisyatibong ito ay direktiba ng ating mahal na gobernador Victorino Dennis Socrates na mailapit pa ang serbisyo ng kapitolyo sa mamamayang Palaweño. Ninanais nito na maibsan ang pagdami ng ating mga alagang aso at pusa ng sa ganun mabawasan ang banta ng rabies sa ating kumunidad,” Mangcucang said in a statement released by the Palawan Provincial Information Office (PIO) on Monday.
ProVet assured that such projects will be augmented and extended to more regions within the province to improve veterinary services and public safety.
Earlier, Global Health Security and One Health Advisor Dr. Noel Miranda underscored the imperative need for a One Health strategy to proficiently manage and eradicate dog-mediated rabies throughout Asia.
With more than 99% of worldwide human rabies deaths occurring in Asia and Africa, he noted, rabies is still a serious public health concern in the region.
Emphasizing mass dog vaccination, increased surveillance, public education, and cross-sector collaboration to address the disease at its source and prevent transmission to humans, Dr. Miranda supports holistic policies that unite human and animal health programs.
All animals, including humans, are susceptible to contracting rabies, which is a viral illness that affects the central nervous system. Infectious diseases are brought on by the rabies virus, which is a member of the Lyssavirus genus. After symptoms have shown themselves, the condition is virtually invariably deadly.
Rabies is mostly spread by the saliva of infected animals, usually through bites. In rare instances, it may also disseminate via scratches or contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth).
Canines are the predominant source of human rabies cases; however, other animals, including bats, felines, and wild predators, may also serve as carriers.
Rabies continues to be a significant threat to public health in Palawan.
There were no human cases of rabies in the province in 2022. Howeve, in 2023, three cases were recorded, and as of September 2024, there was just one instance that had been confirmed.
*** This article was written with the help of CFI Medias.
