THE Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office is targeting to declare Negros Island Region (NIR) rabies-free by 2020, its top official said.
DA-NIR Director Joyce Wendam, who led the observance of the 10th World Rabies Day at the Provincial Capitol grounds in Bacolod City on September 28, said they are stepping up efforts to prevent human rabies death cases in the region.
Wendam said that for the NIR to be declared rabies-free region, it must have no reported and confirmed human rabies death cases for three consecutive years.
The neighboring province of Guimaras has been declared rabies-free.
“We have to double our efforts, including the conduct of massive vaccination, veterinary medical mission, and awareness campaign,” Wendam said.
These activities should be conducted simultaneously in all local government units in the region, she added.
Records of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Occidental showed one confirmed human death case in Sagay City this year.
PVO has yet to verify another reported case in Ilog town.
For dog bites, records of the Provincial Health Office submitted to PVO showed about 4,000 cases, covering only the first quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, as part of the commemoration of the World Rabies Day on September 28, more than 100 dog owners and their pets participated in the Unity Walk. A free rabies vaccination and consultation followed.