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.
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| Dr. Eugenia Canal explains nature of rabies to bloggers |
“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 ownnership.
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)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2441427783325/pia-cebu-conducts-bloggers-forum-on-rabies-#sthash.VYLoZC7S.dpuf
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