Staff reporter
Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte–The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) intensified the monitoring of stray dogs in this town to control rabies.
Dr. Loida Valenzuela, PVO chief said one patient here diagnosed with rabies recently alerted them.
According to Ms. Valenzuela, Ilocos Norte is eyeing a “rabies-free province” declaration; however, with this recent case, the declaration will likely not come yet.
The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Provincial Rabies Control Council (PRCC), in partnership with the PVO and international organization Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), has eradicated rabies cases for the past three years.
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and warm-blooded animals, with dogs being the most commonly involved. Early signs include fever and tingling at the bite site, usually followed by violent excitability, a fear of water, paralysis in some parts of the body, or loss of consciousness. Once symptoms appear, the disease is nearly fatal. They usually show one to three months after the bite.
The PRCC record shows that from nearly 20 canine rabies cases in 2011, cases of both human and canine rabies have been at zero standstill since 2014.
As of this posting, the PVET has tapped the Bantay Rabies sa Barangay Volunteers (BRBV) organized since 2015 to monitor such cases.
Ms. Valenzuela reiterated to residents to care for their pets properly and ensure that they are free from stressful situations such as exposure to hot daytime temperatures or confinement to a leash or cage all day.