March is National Rabies Awareness Month

“Nais kong ipaalala sa mga magulang na ingatan ang kanilang mga anak lalo na ngayong bakasyon laban sa rabies na maaaring makuha sa kagat ng aso. Ayon sa tala ng Department of Health (DOH), pinakamataas ang insidente ng rabies sa panahon ng bakasyon sa eskwela kung kalian mas maraming batang naglalaro sa paligid at kalsada,” Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. told city govt. employees recently.

According to DOH National Epidemiology Center (NEC) director Eric Tayag, cases of dog bites are expected to increase in the summer since more children will be playing outside their homes where there are more prone to animal attacks or dog bites.

“Kaya naman tuwing Marso, ang Olongapo at ang buong bansa sa pamamagitan ng DOH ay inoobserba ang buwan na ito bilang National Rabies Awareness Month, upang ipaalala sa mga magulang na ingatan ang anilang mga anak laban sa kagat ng aso at ipaalala rin sa mga nag-aalaga ng hayop na responsibilidad nila ang mga ito, lalo na ang pagpapabukana sa kanilangb aso,” Mayor Gordon added.

“Rabies is a viral infection of animals that can be transmitted to humans. It is caused by a virus of the Rhabdoviridae family, which attacks the central nervous system. The virus is usually excreted in the saliva of an infected animal. Dogs remain the principal animal source of rabies. In the Philippines, rabies has been transmitted to humans from the bites of dogs (98 percent) and cats (two percent). A person who is infected with rabies may experience symptoms like fever, anorexia, nausea & vomiting, headache, pain or paresthesia at site bite, signs of nervous system dysfunction as hyperactivity, disorientation, hallucination, seizures & paralysis,” explained Dr. Arnold Lopez, City Veterinarian. “That is why it is very important for dog-owners to make sure that their pets can’t harm people or children and give them the appropriate vaccinations,” said Lopez.

“Dito sa Olongapo, simula ng 2007 hanggang 2009 ay bumaba ang insidente ng dog bite at rabies dahil na rin sa pagpapatupad ng City Ordinance No. 23 (series of 1995) na nagbabawal sa mga stray animals sa kalsada para na rin sa kaligtasan ng publiko at sa pagtutulungan ng City Health Department at ng mga barangay na mabigyan ng bakuna ang mga amga alagang aso,” said Mayor Gordon.

For details and inquiries on how to get your dogs vaccinated, visit your barangay offices or the City health Office at the ground floor of the Olongapo City Hall.