House-to-house rabies vaccination launched in Mandaue City

THE Mandaue City Government has initiated house visits in the city’s 27 barangays to encourage pet owners to submit their pets for rabies vaccination.

Dr. Karen Merilles, head of the Mandaue city Veterinary Office (MCVO), said they launched the initiative last Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, after noticing a decrease in the number of pet owners who submit their pets for rabies vaccinations at the barangay level.

According to data provided by the MCVO, rabies vaccination dropped from 19,854 (17,187 dogs and 2,667 cats) in 2021 to 17,092 (14,384 and 2,708 cats) in 2022.

Despite the decline in the number of rabies vaccination by 13.9 percent, Merilles said they noticed a decrease in rabies cases in the city from 2021 to 2022.

Merilles said that while they recorded 14 rabies cases in 2021, only five cases were reported in 2022.

She attributed the decline of rabies cases to MCVO’s regular conduct of rabies vaccination in the city’s 27 barangays at least twice a year, and the office’s regular impounding of stray dogs and cats.

Merilles said that based on their data, children five years old and below are the common rabies victims in Mandaue City.

Merilles said they have encouraged pet owners, especially parents, to avail themselves of rabies vaccination for both dogs and for humans.

For city residents, Merilles said that they can head to the Mandaue City Health Office, which offers free anti-rabies vaccinations every six months.

She also urged pet owners to keep their pets on a leash especially if the animal is not vaccinated against rabies.

Merilles reminded pet owners that they could be penalized by the City if they are caught releasing their pets without a leash.

With their strengthened measures, Merilles said they are hoping to achieve zero cases of rabies in Mandaue City by the end of 2023.

The Department of Health (DOH) defines rabies as a human infection that occurs after a transdermal bite or scratch by an infected animal, like dogs and cats, which can be transmitted when infectious material, usually saliva, comes into direct contact with a victim’s fresh skin lesions.

It added that in some rare cases, rabies could also occur through inhalation of virus-containing spray or organ transplants.

According to the DOH, rabies is considered to be a neglected disease, which can be fatal. The agency reports 200 to 300 deaths from rabies every year.

The disease, however, is also preventable with proper awareness and vaccination.