WITH 51 percent total dog population vaccinated from January to August this year, anti-rabies vaccination continues in Benguet Province.

Provincial Veterinarian Miriam Tiongan said there are at least 79,233 dogs and cats surveyed on January 2017 in the province as they eye 80 percent anti–rabies vaccination.

“With four hired vaccinators, as of September 6, we have vaccinated 32,107 or 51 percent,” added Tiongan.

Vaccination will continue on September 12 in the municipality of Kapangan, September 19 to 20 at the Benguet State University in La Trinidad, September 27 in Tuba, and September 28 in Itogon.

The provincial veterinarian added aside from the accumulation of anti-rabies vaccine, residents should be responsible pet owners for rabies which remains to be 99.9 percent preventable and 100 percent fatal.

As rabies knows no boundaries, Tiongan asked for participation of all who have pets to be responsible pet owners.

Tiongan said rabies can spread from animals to humans. The disease is transmitted when virus which is present in saliva of an infected animal penetrates the skin through a bite.

Dr. Maria Imelda Ulep, Benguet General Hospital chief, declared during first quarter of 2018, some 318 patients were bitten by both dogs and cats while 348 patients were infected in the second quarter.

Exposure to rabid biting animal can be prevented through anti-rabies vaccine, Ulep added.