CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Six persons have died from rabies from dog bites since last January in Central Luzon, the regional Department of Agriculture (DA) bared.
“We recorded six human deaths in the region due to rabies for the first five months of 2013 despite our anti-rabies campaign,” disclosed Dr. Milagros Mananggit, regional rabies coordinator.
She noted that Bulacan and Tarlac posted two deaths each while Nueva Ecija and Pampanga had one death each, adding that all the cases were attributed to bites of stray dogs.
“In order to prevent this, programs such as the distribution of information and education campaign (IEC) materials, dog immunization, establishment of dog pound, rabies control ordinance, rabies control committee, and establishment of animal bite treatment centers in the region are being intensified,” she said.
Mananggit said that so far this year, the DA has vaccinated 101,969 dogs which accounts to 15 percent of the 824,074 total dog population in the region.
“In line with the dog control measures, DA has impounded 465 dogs, euthanized 216, released 109, and neutered 53,” she also said.
