Boracay, Guimaras now rabies-free

AKLAN, Philippines – Boracay and Guimaras, two of the country’s leading tourist destinations, were declared rabies-free yesterday by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Health (DOH).

Maria Nerissa Dominguez, WHO national professional officer for emerging diseases surveillance and response, said there are local initiatives found to be effective in eliminating rabies “particularly in dog population and subsequently in human population.”

Dominguez said the key to an effective anti-rabies campaign is mass vaccination, which targets 70 to 80 percent of dog population.

“We are now declaring two areas in Western Visayas rabies-free to mark today’s (yesterday) celebration of the ‘World Rabies Day.’ These are the Boracay Island in the municipality of Malay in Aklan and the province of Guimaras. I hope other regions will follow,” she said.

The other areas earlier declared rabies-free were the Coron, Culion and Busuanga, all in Palawan; Olimpia in Bais City, Negros Oriental; Siquijor; Batanes; Biliran; Camiguin; Marinduque; Limasawa, Camotes and Apo islands in Negros Oriental.

Neglected disease

DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said the rabies, which is responsible for some 200 to 250 deaths in the country annually, is considered a neglected disease.

“That is because even if it is 100 percent fatal, it is also 100 percent preventable. For decades, effective and safe vaccines to prevent the disease in humans and animals have been available,” Ona said.

The Health chief said none of these deaths would have occurred had the people made use of the tools that prevent rabies from infecting and killing humans and animals.

Based on the records of the DOH’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 213 humans have developed rabies while 414,553 animal bites were reported in 2012.

Malay Mayor John Yap said the declaration would further boost the tourism industry in the Boracay Island.

As part of the government’s anti-rabies campaign, the DOH and the DA has been providing free vaccines for humans and animals, respectively.