By Jezza A. Nepomoceno

The Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry recently provided 10,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccinations for Iloilo, in preparation for the planned province-wide dog vaccination program this summer.

“With the early arrival of anti-rabies vaccines, the province can [get a] jump start [on] the one-time high-density mass vaccination and wrap up by June,” said Provincial Veterinarian Silvino Teodosio, Jr.

The vaccines were part of a P16.6 million allocation from the agency, which provided a total 16,500 vials.

Last year, 59.7 percent of registered dogs in the province were vaccinated, which fell below the 70 percent target.

“Rabies supplies arrived [in] April, well behind the optimum time to mount a massive mass vaccination, which is usually [from] January to May,” Teodosio explained.

In 2017, the province reported 37 animal cases of rabies, which resulted in one human death in Passi City. This year, a total eight animal cases of rabies were confirmed by the Iloilo Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory./JAN, WDJ