Catanduanes has maintained its rabies-free status but it still needs to continue strict surveillance of animal bite incidence, the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD) and the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said last Monday (Sept. 30, 2024) during its Rabies Advocacy Campaign at Rakdell Inn.
Provincial veterinarian Dr. Jane C. Rubio disclosed that the 11 municipal governments are still required to submit rabies surveillance reports, including at least a dog’s head for laboratory examination.
LGUs have to update regularly and engage in advocacies pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations, Regional Rabies Program Coordinator Ruby Jeremias added, considering the many limitations faced by the implementation of the rabies prevention and control program.
Under the campaign for a Rabies-Free Philippines by 2030, the national government seeks to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2027.
Based on data submitted by Animal Bite Treatment Centers from 2020 to June 2024, Catanduanes remains the province with the lowest number of animal bites at 3,057, compared to Camarines Sur’s 22,275.
Twenty-three (23) human rabies deaths have been reported this year, with Masbate and Catanduanes with zero fatalities.
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While the island has three ABTCs at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center, Pandan District Hospital and Viga District Hospital, the other eight LGUs have the option to establish their own ABTCs in their respective Rural Health Units.
The only requirement is for the LGU to send a doctor and a nurse for training at the DOH regional office or the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) so that the ABTC can be accredited.
However, the LGU will have to procure its own anti-rabies vaccine for use of its ABTC, Jeremias informed.
In Albay and Camarines Sur, there are privately-operated ABTCs accredited by DOH but some clinics are reportedly administering vaccines to animal bite victims on their own.
The coordinator said training of ABTC staff is essential to ensure that the center or clinic has the same management as far as vaccine administration is concerned.
Accredited ABTCs use intra-dermal injections, which allows the use of one vial for two to five bite victims, while the intra-muscular injection preferred by some clinics means the vial is consumed for just one patient.
Animal bite cases, mostly from dogs, have been increasing over the years, she stressed, leading to the shortage of vaccine as the health department’s buffer stock runs out.
“Advocacy for responsible pet ownership and implementation of the local rabies ordinance is vital,” she said.
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Dr. Rubio said that under the law, each LGU is mandated to establish an animnal impounding facility.
Virac used to have an animal shelter, she said, but it is very difficult to sustain a shelter as the LGU has to care for unclaimed dogs until the end of its life.
On the other hand, an animal impounding facility can eliminate or dispose of impounded dogs if their owners fail to claim them after three days.
Sorsogon, she said, has 200 dogs in its animal shelter that its owners have refused to claim.
The Virac facility has no elimination protocol, with the dogs put up for adoption if it goes unclaimed, Dr. Rubio said.
The town of Caramoran is also putting up its own animal impounding facility.
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DO YOUR BEST. An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.
As he was about to get the anesthesia he asked to speak to his son.
“Yes, Dad, what is it?”
“Don’t be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn’t go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife….”