City notes increase in rabies cases
CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) has reported an increase in rabies cases in the city this year.
The increase in cases is due to the depletion in providing an anti-rabies vaccination to the pet animals, said DVMF chief, Dr. Pilar Romero.
“Wala pa gani mahuman ang tuig taas na ang rabies cases sa Cebu (City),†Romero said.
Romero’s report shows that 2, 082 pets were vaccinated as of August 31 compared to last year with 21,415.
The reason why, she said the anti-rabies vaccinations are only given to those dogs that are registered with DVMF.
Barangay Apas is consistent for having positive cases of animal rabies in the past two years according to the report.
Other barangays with positive of animal rabies making a total of 18 cases are Parian, Kinasang-an, Guadalupe, Talamban, Tisa, Quiot, Punta Princesa, Kamputhaw, Kalunasan, Sawang Calero, Inayawan and Lahug.
Last year, there were only four cases of positive rabies from the barangays of Apas, Basak Pardo, Sambag II and Bulacao.
Because of the abrupt increase of rabies cases, DVMF intensified in conducting information dissemination, education campaign on rabies, responsible pet ownership and how to prevent dog bites, free-anti rabies vaccination, deworming and vitamin supplementation and spaying last March.
Based on its reports, DVMF also registered 7,061 animals as of August 31, 2013 compared to 1,338 last year.
With this, DVMF generated revenue increases in pet registration amounting to P1.1 million as of August 31 or 326 percent higher than last year which only had P200,700.
Romero said they are implementing a mandatory registration of dogs in relation to the City Ordinance No. 2238 through issuance of citation tickets and house to house registration.
Also, the income from the collections of accredited abattoirs, registration and licensing fees, impounding and pet registration totaling to P19.2 million is higher compared to last year’s P15.9 million.— (FREEMAN)
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