ILOILO – The island barangays of Polopiña and Igbon and the islets of Danao-danao and Bulubadiangan in the municipality of Concepcion have been declared rabies-free by the Regional Rabies Control Council that is made up of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Department of Interior and Local Government.
With this latest declaration, the number of rabies-free areas in Concepcion has risen to eight.
Previously declared as such were the island barangays of Botlog Daku, Tambaliza, Macatunao, Malangabang, Salvacion, and Talo-toan.
According to Mayor Raul Banias, the local government of Concepcion worked hard to make these areas rabies-free to further boost the municipality’s tourism industry and protect its people and visitors.
Concepcion has 11 island barangays plus islets with white-sand beaches that have been attracting tourists in recent years.
Banias said he would coordinate with Mayor Jett Rojas of nearby Ajuy town on the rabies status of Tagubanhan Island which is made up of five barangays – two villages (Punta Buri and Tagubanhan) belong to Ajuy while three (Bagongon, Maliogliog and Dungon) belong to Concepcion.
Perhaps, he said, the two municipalities could have a unified anti-rabies program for Tagubanhan Island.
Banias urged the barangay officials of Concepcion’s eight rabies-free islands to sustain such status of their area.
To secure a declaration of being rabies-free, an area must not have rabies cases for two consecutive years, according to Dr. Darel Tabuada, veterinarian IV at the Iloilo Provincial Veterinary Office.
Other requirements are following:
* school- and community-based information and education campaign on rabies
* vaccination program on dogs
* an ordinance promoting responsible pet ownership
* prohibition of dog entry without the owner securing a vaccination card.
Rabies, while fatal, is preventable with vaccination. It 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.
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).
For the prevention and control of rabies as a public health threat, the Department of Health recommended to local governments the following:
* strict implementation of Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 specifically on responsible pet ownership
* passage of local ordinances in the control of stray dogs
* control dog population through spaying and neutering
* establishment of rabies control committees down to the barangay level
* increase/maintain dog vaccination coverage between 70-90percent to achieve herd immunity
* procure human and canine/dog anti-rabies vaccines
* advocacy campaign emphasizing preventive behaviors/PN
