DIPOLOG CITY, FEB. 27(PIA)---In line with the nation-wide celebration of Rabies Awareness Month during the month of March, the City Veterinary Office(CVO) of Dipolog City will conduct a Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination on March 1, 2012 at Plaza Magsaysay, this city.
Rabies is a deadly disease of animals caused by a virus which is transmissible to human beings through bites of infected animals, through contact of the saliva with an opening or wound in the skin, causing acute inflammation of the brain and the spinal cord. It can also be transmitted through aerosol transmission, faulty vaccines, and tissue and organ transplants.
Dipolog City Veterinarian, Dr. Russell Ganub said the free anti-rabies vaccination of the dogs will be done from 9:00AM to 3:00PM on March 1, 2012.
During the conduct of the said activity, a raffle will be held among the owners of the dog vaccinated during the day.
Other lined-up activities for the month-long celebration include massive information dissemination campaign about rabies and the conduct of barangay-to-barangay rabies vaccination. However, Ganub stressed that free anti-rabies vaccination in the barangays will be conducted only upon the request of the officials of the concerned barangay.
Dr. Ganub said, so far Barangay Punta has already requested the City Veterinary Office to conduct free rabies vaccination in the area during the month-long celebration.
However, Ganub clarified that free vaccination is not only done during the Rabies Awareness Month Celebration, but throughout the year as a regular program of the office.
Based on the record obtained from Ms. Donabelle V. Remolano of the Dipolog City Health Office, a total of 530 individuals (292 males and 238 females) were bitten by dogs, cats and other animals in 2011. Of these number, 481 individuals were bitten by dogs, 34 by cats and 15 by other animals.
However, despite that 401 of the victims were classified under Category III, Remolano said none of the victims of animal bites died.
Relative to this, the CVO urges all dog owners in Dipolog City to avail of this Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination and become a part of the national leadership’s campaign of a Rabies-Free Philippines.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Working Together for a Rabies-Free Philippines: Register and Vaccinate Your Pet.”(ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)