Over 34,000 dogs get free anti-rabies shots

CEBU, Philippines — Dogs in Cebu City are getting their shots as part of the Philippines’ drive to be rabies-free by 2020.

At least 34,243 dogs in the city were vaccinated by the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) in a bid to fight the deadly rabies disease.

DVMF has been conducting a free door-to-door anti-rabies vaccination since February this year.

The operation is in partnership with the animal rights group, the Humane Society International (HSI).

Based on HIS’s survey, approximately 130,000 dogs need vaccination.

DVMF has classified the city’s 80 barangays into three groups—high-risk, medium-risk, and low-risk.

The high-risk vaccination was completed last April, while the vaccination in areas with medium-risk of rabies is still ongoing.

Low-risk areas, on the other hand, will run from June to July.

At least 21 barangays have been identified as high-risk, including Bacayan, Capitol Site, Pulangbato, Sambag, Apas, Bulacao, Babag, Quiot, Guadalupe, Sambag, Cogon Ramos, Zapatera, Mabolo, Luz, Sapangdaku, Buhisan, Toong, Duljo Fatima, San Antonio, Talamban, and Busay.

Medium-risk villages include Kamputhaw, Kinasang-an, Cogon Pardo, Basak Pardo, Tisa, Tejero, Poblacion Pardo, and Inayawan.

Doctor Alice Utlang, DVMF chief, said the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Department of Agriculture donated P4.5 million worth of vaccines, which can cater up to 150,000 dogs.

“Ang kani bitaw atong pagbakuna nga house-to-house, wala’y gasto ang city,” said Utlang.

The city is using a mass dog vaccination (MDV) application, a tracking tool to identify problem areas in mass campaigns to vaccinate dogs.

Once vaccinated, the dog’s picture is quickly taken on a smartphone. This photo geo-tags dogs by location and uploads the data to an interactive map.

Designed by the HSI, the app is helping them identify key areas to target.

According to DOH website, rabies is a human infection that occurs after a trans-dermal bite or scratch by an infected animal, like dogs, cats or rats.

Health department said it is not among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the country but it is regarded as a significant public health problem because it is one of the most acutely fatal infection and it is responsible for the death of 200-300 Filipinos annually

DOH added that it considered to be a neglected disease, which is 100 percent fatal though 100 percent preventable.

The Philippines ranks fifth in the world for rabies cases. — Marienel Janea, CNU Interns (FREEMAN)