Parañaque intensifies anti-rabies drive

MANILA, Philippines - In its latest campaign against rabies, the Parañaque City government, under the leadership of Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. and through its Agriculture Office, has inoculated 6198 pets with anti-rabies vaccine in the city’s first and second districts. While the pets were made up mostly of dogs, there were also cats and pet monkeys which were immunized at the request of their owners.

The year-round campaign is a joint effort of the City Agriculture Office headed by Fe Ferolino, Special Services Office under Dean Calleja,  and the City Health Office  headed by Dr. Olga Virtusio.

The continuing program is made possible by virtue of City Ordinance No. 05-020 series, also known as “An Ordinance Implementing an Anti-Rabies Program for the City of Parañaque and Appropriating Funds Thereof,” which was authored by city councilor Jose Enrico Golez.

The large turnout was due in part to the intense information campaign and education dissemination made by the city government about the dangers, prevention, and management of this deadly infection, prompting pet owners in the city to have their pets vaccinated to ensure that they are protected from this disease.

“Rabies is a grave concern for pets, their owners, and the public in general. By having their pets vaccinated, they not only protect them from rabies but also contribute to preventing the spread of this deadly disease,” Mayor Bernabe said.

Rabies is an infectious disease that is transmitted by dogs to other warm-blooded animals, including humans through bites, scratches, and licks.  Symptoms, which include hydrophobia, aerophobia, excessive salivation or foaming, and furious behavior, are common for both humans and animals which are infected by rabies.

If bitten or scratched by a dog or any animal, it is best to wash the wound or scratch with soap and water and lace it with wound antiseptic like povidone iodine.  Thereafter, the victim should be brought right away to the nearest health center or accredited animal bite treatment center (ABTC), or to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City or the San Lazaro Hospital for dog bite treatment.