LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — At least 123,132 dogs from various towns and cities of Pangasinan have already been given anti-rabies vaccination this year.
The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) said those vaccinated comprise 65 percent of the total target of 188,192 dogs set to undergo anti-rabies vaccination in the province.
OPVet said anti-rabies vaccination conducted by the provincial government is an intervention strategy which seeks to totally eradicate the prevalence of rabies cases in the province.
Provincial Veterinarian Eric Jose Perez said that the massive anti-rabies vaccination by the provincial administration is in response to the “Anti Rabies Act of 2007” or Republic Act No. 9482: An Act Providing for the Control and Elimination of Human and Animal Rabies, Prescribing Penalties for Violation Thereof and Appropriating Funds Therefor.
Perez said the provincial administration under Governor Amado Espino III strictly reinforces its Rabies Prevention and Control Program, particularly on the financing of supplies and human and dog vaccines needed for immunization.
A resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan tasked the OPVet with the job of revving up its anti-rabies vaccination drive and information and education campaign among dog owners in a bid to stop the rise of rabies cases in the province.
Lingayen and Binmaley towns, Urdaneta City and other localities in the province which were earlier reported with the most number of positive rabies cases as a result of dog bite, were the areas where a series of anti-rabies vaccination was conducted, Perez said.
Raquel Palad, provincial report officer on livestock, said that since January, the OPVet in partnership with the Bureau of Animal Industry, conducted the massive anti-rabies vaccination in eight localities, namely Lingayen, Alaminos City, Sual, Malasiqui, Laoac, San Jacinto and Bayambang, covering a total of 151 barangays.
A total of 19,436 dogs were given with anti-rabies vaccine in these localities.
On top of the massive anti-rabies vaccination, Palad said that district veterinarians of the provincial government, and municipal and city veterinarians constantly conduct anti-rabies vaccination in their respective areas.
“Analysis of the rabies situation in Pangasinan reveals that areas with high prevalence of reported rabies cases are those with most number of dogs that are not vaccinated,” she added. LVM/PNA-northboundasia.com