The island-town of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia and several other islands around mainland Bohol are set to be declared “rabies-free†by health officials.
Provincial veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lopez said that the CPG and islands of Pamilacan, Balicasag and Cabilao are likely to be declared rabies-free amid an expansive anti-rabies drive in said areas.
Lapiz said that the initiative in the localities have been driven by the nationwide campaign to make the entire country rabies-free by 2020.
However, Bohol has not been declared rabies-free unlike the nearby provinces of Suiqijor and Camaguin.
In 2014, the Bureau of Animal Industry under the department of Agriculture declared rabies-free the island-towns of Alabat and Perez in Quezon Province, the islands of Bugas Grande in Surigao del Norte and island-towns of Linapacan, Kalayaan, Cagayancillo, Magsaysay, Araceli and Cuyo in Palawan.
According to Lopez, the Department of Health also recently declared the provinces of Siquijor, Batanes, Camiguin, Biliran and Dinagat; the islands of Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental, Malapascua, Camotes in Cebu, Olympia in Bais City, Culion, Coron; and Busuanga in Palawan and Boracay Island in Aklan.
Lopez said that 99.9 percent of rabies cases are fatal but 100 percent of these can be cured.
Vaccination is the most effective measure against rabies prompting health officials to achieve its goal of vaccinating 80 percent of the dog population in Bohol.
Vaccination of dogs is offered free by the provincial government. (Rey Tutas)