PIA Press Release
Monday, January 02, 2012 No human rabies case in Kalinga for 3 years – PESUby Gigi Dumallig TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Jan. 2(PIA) -- For three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011, Kalinga has not received any report of human rabies infection in its various health service centers. Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) Officer Jose Pardito Jr. revealed this saying that the Provincial Health Office (PHO) had been persistent in its campaign to end rabies infections as it gears for the declaration of a rabies- free Kalinga in 2015. He explained that as a policy, declaration as rabies free could only be possible with ‘zero indigenous rabies case in both human and canine for two consecutive years.’ During the interview, he said that there is a need to intensify more on programs advocating canine vaccination to eradicate rabies in dogs for the province to finally achieve a zero canine rabies case. According to Pardito, the health department had been persistent in its information education campaign advocating for the immediate treatment of animal bites to prevent possible infection. It is rewarding to note that the public is now more aware of the dangers of rabies and seeking immediate medical treatment after getting bitten, he said. Pardito bared that at present, there are at least six trained and certified vaccinators in the province, with bite centers now located in Lubuagan, Tabuk City and Balbalan aside from the provincial health office. He said that with the full coordination of concerned agencies, the private sector, and the public, Kalinga he said could achieve a rabies-free province even before 2015. (JDP/GGD- PIA CAR, Kalinga) | 
