Central Luzon among top 5 regions with most rabies cases

Monday, February 13, 2012

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- From 2005 until 2010, Central Luzon has been included among the top five regions in the country with high animal rabies cases.

Dr. Milagros Mananggit, Regional Rabies coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said that in 2005 and 2006, the region ranked second among all other regions in the country in terms of reported animal rabies cases.

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Central Luzon ranked third in 2007; back to second in 2008; fourth in 2009; and third in 2010.

Among the other regions with high animal rabies cases included Ilocos, Region 4, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao for the 2010 ranking data.

Mananggit said because of this data, the DA, Department of Health (DOH), and the local government units (LGUs) have been meeting up to address this problem, creating new programs to intensify the elimination of animal rabies in the region.

Health authorities also conduct regular rabies vaccination.

To date, a meeting will be held on the 28th of this month where LGUs will be presenting their proposed budget and programs on animal rabies to finalize what should be prioritized.

Mananggit said that in 2005, there were 249 cases of animal rabies reported in the region; 151 in 2006; 112 in 2007; 113 in 2008; 74 in 2009; and 68 cases in 2010, which is the lowest case count in five years.

"Notably, though we are among the top five with highest cases, each year, we manage to lower the rating," Mananggit said.

For 2010 data, the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan were included among the top 10 provinces with high animal rabies cases nationwide. Pampanga ranked fifth with 32 cases, while Bulacan ranked 10th with 16 cases.

Cities and municipalities in Central Luzon that registered high number of animal rabies cases in 2010 included San Luis, Pampanga; Candaba, Pampanga; Capas, Tarlac; Mexico, Pampanga; Baliuag, Bulacan; Bustos, Bulacan; Arayat, Pampanga; San Simon, Pampanga; and Sta. Ana, Pampanga.

Meanwhile, the DA-Central Luzon office is currently on the process of collating the data for the 2011 animal rabies report, which will be presented to the public by June, said Mananggit.