There are three confirmed cases of rabies in Abra from 1,625 animal bite cases recorded in 2018.
This was presented during the consultation meeting on infectious diseases conducted by DOH-Abra on February 28, 2019, at Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Conference Room, Calaba, Bangued.
Health personnel from different municipalities participated to improve the accomplishment rate of Abra in Rabies Program implementation and other infectious diseases.
In 2018, they have 56% accomplishment rate in dog vaccination where there are 13,354 vaccinated dogs out of the 23,708 dog population. They are targeting 70% accomplishment rate for this year to safeguard people from rabies.
Vaccination of pets is an effective way to prevent rabies.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through bites from an infected animal. The virus then infects the central nervous system ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.
If bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wounds or the bitten area with soap and water for 5-10 minutes and go immediately to Animal Bite Center in APH for anti-rabies vaccination.