WV Rabies Free Zones soon to be declared
Considering that positive rabies cases are clustered in some areas in Western Visayas, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit (DA-RFU) 6 through the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) plans to declare rabies free zones/areas in the region.
According to OIC Regional Executive Director Jindra Linda L. Demeterio, the high incidence of human and canine rabies in the region must be reduced by employing measures such as sustained vaccination, elimination of stray dogs and massive information campaign about the disease and responsible pet ownership.
"We should coordinate closely with our local government counterparts thereby inviting LGU officials of municipalities and cities which has successful rabies program implementation to share their experience and activities in a forum at areas with high incidence of positive cases," Dir. Demeterio said.
A rabies free zones/areas can be declared in a region of which parts are still infected if such area is separated from the nearby infected areas by a surveillance zone or physical/geographical barriers, and animal health measures are effectively implemented to prevent disease incursion.
According to Dr. Vicente Nim, Regional Rabies Coordinator and Chief of RADDL, a region, province or area/zone to qualify for local declaration must have an effective disease monitoring and surveillance system for both human and animal rabies, a record of regular and prompt disease reporting, no indigenously acquired rabies infection in man and in any animal species during the past two years, no imported rabies case in carnivores confirmed outside the quarantine station, and send a declaration to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) that it wishes to establish a rabies free area/zone.
He said that the islands of Boracay and Guimaras are being considered for this declaration because of the presence of geographical barriers and in-place monitoring and surveillance system and low human and canine rabies cases for the past years.
He stressed that the declaration of these two islands as rabies free zones may further help boast the tourism industry of the region.
"As of now, we are still assessing the two islands vis a vis with the other criteria set by the DA-BAI," Dr. Nim explained.
Prior to the application, the following activities must be in place and operate effectively in the area/zone: massive vaccination of dogs and other susceptible animals is done every three years. Dog control measures are strictly implemented in accordance with the existing local ordinance which include registration and licensing, leashing, caging and/or confining, population control such as castration and spaying, elimination of unregistered and stray dogs, and humane killing and proper disposal of impounded dogs.
Dog movement management and other quarantine control measures are imposed to ensure that no infected animals gain entry into the free zones and responsible pet ownership is always given emphasis in all public awareness activities.
The area/zones applied for local declaration as rabies free will be included in the DA-BAI's list of rabies free areas/zones only after the submitted evidence has been accepted and formally acknowledge by the bureau.
(JEEO/RAFID 6)