Mandaue City breaks its rabies-free record

CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue City's rabies-free record since 2012 was broken this year when a rabid dog carrying the virus bit four victims in Barangay Tabok last October 13.

Edwin Jumao-as, city rabies coordinator, said the four victims, the youngest being a seven-year-old girl, were bitten by the stray dog that went wild.

He said they only learned the suspect canine had rabies after a test on the dog's head which was conducted days later. The dog died two days after the biting spree, he added.

Jumao-as said the patients were, however, declared safe after receiving a series of anti-rabies vaccines.

Following this incident, the City Veterinary's Office (CVO) will conduct a free anti-rabies vaccination for all dogs in Barangay Tabok, said Jumao-as.

He said that over the last three years, they had no reports of rabies until last month's incident.

Jumao-as also said they should not have listened to some animal rights group which reportedly advised them against seizing un-owned and owned stray dogs.

"Di kuno maayo manakop, pero sayop to kay mao to'y hinungdan nga naa'y stray dog nga naa diay rabies. Karon dakpon na gyud tanang stray dogs," he said.

CVO records show that the city has 12,432 dogs, domesticated and stray.

The office has vaccinated 7,000 of them, and Jumao-as said by this year, they hope to vaccinate the rest. From this figure, 3,000 are stray dogs.

He asked dog owners to present their dogs to them to be given the shots.

"To all pet owners, let's abide the law," Jumao-as appealed.

Under a city ordinance on pets, especially dogs, owners whose dogs are found to have rabies are fined P10,000, he said.

He said they are still, however, in the process of informing the public about this. They hope to fully implement this by next year.

City veterinarian Dr. Nestor Jumao-as said it would take Mandaue City another five years from the date the new rabies cases were recorded to be declared rabies-free again. (FREEMAN)