Gov’t aims to eliminate rabies as ‘public health threat’ within two years

As cases of rabid dog bites continue to increase, Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Enrique Ona says government aims to eliminate rabies "as a public health threat" within two years.
 
"Hindi ko sasabihin na zero ha, but as a public health threat, we would like to eliminate rabies," Ona said in a News to Go video, Friday.

Currently, at least 5,000 cases of rabid dog bites have been recorded at the San Lazaro Hospital since Jan.1, 2014.
 

In a phone interview with DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, he said this figure is almost the same as last year, but is quick to add that this only speaks for dog bites, as other forms of rabies cases such as cat bites are usually not recorded, especially in the provinces.
 
Tayag said that late last year, the DOH has begun to convene with the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for a plan to hasten campaign to eliminate rabies as "public health threat" to 2015—much earlier than the DOH's original target of 2020.
 
"Our aim is to eliminate rabies completely. Of course we want a zero case of rabies, but the more urgent task is to eliminate it as public health threat," Tayag said.

He stated that the Rabies Elimination Committee—comprised of experts from the DOH, DA, and DILG—is set to have another meeting on Jan. 24 for laying out more concrete plans in achieving this goal.

Among the goals of the Committee, Tayag said, is the vaccination eight million dogs in the country before the year ends, or 80% of the estimated 10 million dogs in the Philippines.
 
Tayag said that they also aim to intensify their information drive against rabies, especially on the do's and don'ts in case of being bitten by dogs, cats, or rodents.

"Again, we want to remind the public not to force the wound to bleed, as it can only hasten the spread of the (rabies) virus through the veins—eventually reaching the brain, which might cause death," Tayag said.

He advises the public to immediately wash the wound with soap and go to the nearby clinic or hospital to get an anti-rabies shot.
 
Tayag said that at present, only the island of Boracay has been declared as "rabies-free," but DOH aims to add more provinces in the list this year. — VC, GMA News