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CEBU CITY, April 1 (PIA)--- The Philippine Information
Agency –Cebu conducted a bloggers' forum recently for rabies advocacy in
time for the celebration of rabies awareness and prevention month.
Invited guests were health and animal authorities from the region,
province and Cebu City and several bloggers who were already part of recent
PIA-Cebu initiated activities.
DOH-7 regional rabies program coordinator Dr. Eugenia
Canal described to the group the nature of rabies when acquired by a
human.
“Usual symptoms include fever, sore throat, body malaise after the
incubation period and then followed by the neurologic symptoms,” Canal said.
The dog has to be observed from one to two weeks, she added.
Canal said DOH-7 noticed an increasing trend of rabies infection
on the human side however these are treated because of the availability of
medicines at the Animal Bite Treatment Centers.
“We have 18 certified rabies centers in Cebu and Philhealth
benefits can be availed by the patient,” Canal said.
She also emphasized that the distance of the wound to the brain
matters a lot in the infection.
“The nearer the wound to the brain, the more it is fatal,” Canal
said.
Balbino Guerrero of www.binoguidecebu.com and who was a
rabies survivor asked if just like other illnesses, if there’ll be a recurrence
of the infection.
“No, once you completed all the rabies infection treatment, then
you are declared clear, “ Canal said.
Unlike before, Canal also assured the audience that the medicines
are already available in the pharmacies in Cebu.
On the other hand, Dr. Pilar Romero of the Department of
Veterinary and Fisheries, Cebu City said stray dogs are mostly the source of
rabies.
“Stray dogs mean, these are dogs with owners but are just left to
stray,” Romero said.
She said the City has been all out in campaigning for responsible
dog ownenership.
The City according to Romero encourages all dog owners to have
their dogs registered at their office.
“When the dog is registered, it can make pet owners liable for
medical expenses in case of accidental bites and the dog can also avail of
services,” Romero said.
Romero also said, other than dog registration, the city is also
into dog adoption.
“A person who wants to adopt a dog will just have to be screened
and pay the amount of P150 for dog ownership,” Romero said.
Department of Agriculture's regional rabies coordinator
Dr. Teodoro Dabocol said, signs of dogs who are rabid include
violent or unruly behavior, running without any direction, too much salivating,
difficulty in eating and drinking and being uneasy.
A fine of 2,000 is given to a pet owner who fails or refuses to
register and to vaccinate his dog for rabies and P500 every time the dog is
caught outside.
Other bloggers who joined the forum include Jeph Flores of KIAT
CEBU, Chanel Imperial of www.sugbosentro.wordpress.com , Johnn
Mendoza of www.focalglass.com, www.foodincebu.com, www.wildlifephilippines.com
and Richard Bunabos of www.gizspec.com .
PIA and the Cebu Bloggers Society had tied up in several projects
particularly in advocating social good. PIA supports CBS project
#iBLOGforSocialGood which aims to disseminate developmental things happening in
society.
The official hashtag for the forum is
#iBLOGforRabiesFreePH. (mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)