Manila: A massive dog vaccination campaign by the Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) Office and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) is ongoing in eight barangays of the municipality of Tibiao to prevent the spread of rabies.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Antique ProVet Public Health Division chief, Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, stated that the vaccination effort was an immediate response after a dog from Barangay Sta. Justa tested positive for rabies following a laboratory examination. The specimen of the dog was submitted to the Department of Agriculture for a lab test on May 2, confirming the presence of rabies.
Another dog from the same barangay began showing signs and symptoms of rabies after the death of the previously confirmed rabies-positive dog. The ongoing mass vaccination campaign in the barangays of San Francisco Norte, San Francisco Sur, San Isidro, Martinez, Importante, Lapaz, Tuno, and Sta. Justa is scheduled to conclude on Friday, with an average of 300 dogs being vaccinated each day.
Dr. Ardamil also noted that there have been no recorded cases of human rabies in the province from January 1 to June 26 of this year. He expressed hope that the year will end without any human fatalities due to rabies.
