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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
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ILOILO – Two island-barangays in the municipality of Concepcion in northern Iloilo seek to be declared as “rabies-free” zones.
“We have set the evaluation of these barangays this month,” said Caroline Tumabotabo, Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 Rabies Prevention and Control Program coordinator.
The island-barangays are Malangabang and Salvacion.
For an area to be declared rabies-free, there should be no case of animal rabies and human rabies for two consecutive years, according to DOH-6’s Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) on Rabies Prevention and Control.
Likewise, DOH requires a local ordinance on the prevention and control of rabies and a localized comprehensive rabies prevention, control and elimination program.
Rabies is a highly fatal viral disease that primarily affects warm-blooded animals other than man, notably dogs, cats, rats, and bats, but which can be transmitted to humans by infected animals.
The rabies virus, which is present in the saliva of an infected animal, is passed to a human through a bite, or rarely, when the animal’s saliva gets in contact with a scratch or fresh break in the skin.
Three areas in Western Visayas were previously declared rabies-free, according to Dr. Pacifico Lumawag, regional rabies coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In Iloilo, Pan de Azucar Island which is also in Concepcion was declared rabies-free in 2016. The island is composed of three barangays, namely Macatunao, Talo-toan and Tambaliza.
The island province of Guimaras and Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan were also declared rabies-free in 2013.
The rabies virus primarily affects the central nervous system. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to those of many other infection — fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort.
As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, salivation, difficulty in swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water).
March has been declared Rabies Awareness Month pursuant to Republic Act 9482 which was signed into law on May 25, 2007.
It aims to strengthen public awareness on the prevention, control, and management of rabies.
Rabies is a serious public health problem in the country. The Philippines is among the top 10 countries with the highest incidence of rabies in the world. Department of Health officials estimate that about 100,000 Filipinos are treated for dog bites and 200 to 300 die from rabies annually.
Among Filipinos, dogs account for 98 percent of rabies infection, cats account for the remaining two percent.
An infected dog can transmit the rabies virus even before it becomes ill, but it will invariably manifest signs and symptoms of rabies including change in behavior such as unprovoked aggressiveness and excitability, paralysis, and hydrophobia within five days, and die within two weeks, after it gets infected. (PIA-Iloilo/PN)
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