Rabid dog reportedly eaten in Himamaylan City

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) placed the Negros Occidental fifth congressional district under a rabies “high alert” after nine people reportedly ate a dog infected with rabies in Barangay Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City last week.

PVO head, Dr. Renante Decena, said the initial report stated the nine individuals slaughtered and ate a dog that was allegedly bitten by rabid dog.

PVO and Himamaylan City Veterinary Office personnel have already have located the nine individuals and inoculated them with rabies vaccinations.

Records from the PVO revealed six dogs from the province’s fifth congressional district were found infected with rabies.

All local veterinary offices in the district were ordered to monitor dog bite incidents, Decena said.

Record also showed, five deaths caused by rabies have been recorded across Negros Occidental since January.

Decena called on pet owners to have their pets vaccinated against rabies.

The PVO aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the dog population in the province by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Decena expressed disappointment over local government units in the province registering “very poor compliance” with mandatory dog vaccination policies. However, he did not disclose which locales were in poor compliance.

The Negros Occidental fifth congressional district is comprised of Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla.

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system with symptoms including fever with pain; and an unusual tingling, pricking, or burning sensation at the wound site./DGB, WDJ