NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) -- Caibiran Mayor Rhodessa Delante-Revita urged dog owners of her town to have their dogs vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine during the conduct of the Provincial Rabies Awarenesses Month activity held at the Brgy. Manlabang Covered Court, Caibiran on March 8.

Revita invited dog owners to avail of free anti-rabies vaccination and free dog castration provided by the Biliran Provincial Veterinary Office led by Dr. Suzette V. Apura in coordination with the Biliran Provincial Health Office and the Biliran Provincial Rabies Prevention and Control Committee.

Kristina Marie J. Escosis, Biliran provincial human rabies coordinator, informed in her message that there were three recorded positive rabies cases in 2021 in the municipality of Caibiran, and these cases were in Alegria, Kaulangohan and Manlabang.

She also reported that some 131 dog bites were recorded in the municipality, especially in the big barangays of the town.

Escosis urged the public not to resort to the traditional method of healing (suna) on rabid dog bites but rather go to a health facility for treatment.

She further encouraged dog owners to have their dog castrated to control the increasing number of dog population in the province.

Salita A. Montejo, DOH development management officer said also in her message, that the month-long activity in observance of the Rabies Awareness Month is aimed to increase people’s awareness on its importance and to inculcate to dog owners their responsibilities.

Montejo informed participants of the increasing dog bite cases in the province.

She said the province was stripped as a rabies-free province some three years ago due to recorded positive canine rabies cases.

“The Office of the Provincial Veterinary is doing its best that there will be no recorded rabies case in the province this year," Montejo said adding that this will create a domino effect in other towns of the province due to its proximity with each other.

She also cited an ordinance prescribing that each household must only own a maximum of three dogs to control the increase of dog population in the province.

The DOH official urged local officials to tap the barangay health workers (BHWs) in the conduct of dog vaccination survey to determine the number of dogs vaccinated and castrated in the barangays.

Montejo told the attendees of the activity that the Provincial Animal Bite Center located at the Biliran Provincial Hospital administers anti-rabies vaccine. (LDL/RSV/PIA Biliran)