LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has strongly urged pet owners to have their pets vaccinated with anti-rabies to protect people from the deadly virus.
Provincial health officer Dr. Anna Theresa De Guzman made the call following a report on the shortage of anti-rabies vaccine for persons in the province amid high demand.
“We have sufficient supply of anti-rabies vaccine for cats and dogs so pet owners should take advantage of it to ensure their pets are safe from rabies; consequently, ensuring also the safety of the people,” she said in an interview on Thursday.
De Guzman stressed the importance of anti-rabies vaccine for animals, noting that Pangasinan had high mortality rate due to rabies with 19 cases in 2016.
The figure, however, declined to six mortality cases in 2017, owing to the province’s effort.
This year, there were already two mortalities recorded.
“Rabies is deadly, so we need to be serious about it,” she said.
The Provincial Veterinary Office has assured an all-year round availability of anti-rabies vaccine for cats and dogs in respective veterinary offices in the towns and cities of the province.
Meanwhile, De Guzman said although the province can readily purchase additional anti-rabies vaccines for persons with sufficient fund on hand, the problem lies with the supply.
“Last year, we have used up more or less 73, 000 anti-rabies vaccine for the residents of Pangasinan, who were bitten by animals. There was even the need for the province to augment because of high number,” she said. (PNA)
