I. Norte is rabies-free, thanks to PVet, GARC

The Provincial Veterinary (PVET) office in partnership with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) has sustained its campaign to maintain Ilocos Norte rabies-free.

Dr. Loida Valenzuela, provincial veterinary officer, said the anti-rabies program has been integrated in the elementary curriculum in the province to strengthen their awareness campaign for the young generation.

“For about two years, Ilocos Norte has zero rabies case both in humans and animals. We need to maintain this status of the province as rabies-free by way of awareness campaign and massive free anti-rabies vaccination,” she said.

As of June 2015, initial report from the provincial veterinary office showed that 35 percent of some 76,000 dog population are now vaccinated against rabies.

Meanwhile, development communication students in Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in partnership with the PVET and GARC conducted a campaign on rabies control in Batac City with a theme: “ Pugipugen ti Rabies para ti Natalged a Batac.”

Earlier, veterinarians and livestock inspectors representing all local government units (LGUs), regional and local health officials, stakeholders and the representatives from the GARC conducted a rabies regional summit at the Plaza Del Norte in Laoag City to formulate a road –map eliminating rabies incident in Region 1.

Based on the report from the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 1 as of May this year, Pangasinan had the greatest number of rabies incidents with 12 deaths due to rabies. (Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA-1 Ilocos Norte, Eden Gay Malana, intern MMSU DevCom)