Rabies outbreak in Negros Occ.

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A rabies outbreak had been declared in three cities and two towns in Negros Occidental by the Provincial Veterinary Office.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said the three cities were Bacolod, Cadiz and San Carlos, while the two towns were Binalbagan and Pulupandan.

PVO report showed that there are eight deaths recorded by dog bites in the province with four in Bacolod; two in Binalbagan; and one each in Pulupundan, San Carlos City and Cadiz City.

According to Decena, a positive case of rabies can already be considered an outbreak.

Decena said that he will meet with all the city and town veterinarians in the province to discuss the matter, as he appealed to pet owners to be responsible with their dogs.

He said that dog owners should regularly feed their pets and put it in a cage so it can’t bite.

Further, he noted that only 24,000 of the 219,000 dogs in the province were vaccinated. /JMD