JOINT EFFORTS VS. RABIES. Governor Daniel R. Fernando (center) along with other stakeholders, pose for a photo after signing copies of a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a rabies network model in Bulacan on Tuesday (Jan. 21, 2020). This is under the Japan and Philippines One Health Rabies project that aims to introduce rabies prevention and treatment network model based on a multiagency and comprehensive approach to contribute to the elimination of rabies in the country. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government of Bulacan)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- A prevention and treatment network model that could help eliminate rabies will soon be established in this province.
The provincial government of Bulacan headed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) represented by Director Dr. Celia Carlos, and representatives from the local government units of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Pulilan, Guiguinto, and Bulakan signed Tuesday the memorandum of agreement for the establishment of one health rabies network model for the elimination of rabies in the Philippines.
This is under the Japan and Philippines One Health Rabies (JAPOHR) project that aims to introduce rabies prevention and treatment network model based on a multiagency and comprehensive approach to contribute in the elimination of rabies in the country.
Under the agreement, the RITM through JAPOHR will provide animal pound facility, animal transport vehicle and technical support to establish the rabies network model.
The provincial government, on the other hand, will allocate a budget for activities related to JAPOHR and provide land for the construction of the animal pound facility and assign competent staff and carry out activities based on Republic Act 9482, the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, among others.
Meanwhile, the roles of the LGUs include informing within their jurisdiction of the JAPOHR-related activities; promoting responsible pet ownership such as submission for mandatory registration of pets; enacting local ordinances in accordance with the said law and supporting activities related to the rabies network model.
“This is a project for our province that I want all of you to witness. We are all in this together and we hope time will come that rabies will be avoided and will be gone,” Fernando said.
Provincial veterinarian, Dr. Voltaire Basinang, meanwhile, said the establishment of the rabies network model will start in February.
Records show there were 48 positive rabies cases in animals in 2019 as compared to 36 in 2018, making Bulacan second-highest in the number of rabies cases in animals in Central Luzon.
The Provincial Health Office-Public Health, on the other hand, said there were five human rabies cases in 2019, which is lower than the nine human rabies cases recorded in 2018.
Dr. Jocelyn Gomez said rabies cases in human are declining in the province due to the consolidated efforts that increased the public awareness on rabies.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease and is mainly transmitted through bites and exposure from the saliva of infected animals.
In most countries, including the Philippines, more than 97 percent of rabies cases are caused by dog bites.
Some of the symptoms of rabies include fatigue, headache, anorexia, fever, and itchiness of the wound and if untreated, may lead to coma or death.
The incubation period of rabies, or the time from infection to the manifestation of symptoms, can be as short as two weeks and as long as six years. (PNA)
