Cases of human rabies in Iloilo province dropped for the past three years due to high immunization rate among dog’s population.

Records showed that human rabies in Iloilo declined from five cases in 2010 to three cases in 2011 and only two cases last year.

According to provincial veterinarian Dr. Silvino Teodosio, the province is consistent in establishing “herd immunity” among its 263,505 registered dogs in 43 local government units (LGUs).

Teodosio said they vaccinated 200,034 dogs or 75.91 percent of the total dog population in 2012 alone.

The towns with 100 percent rabies-free dogs are Zarraga (3,480) and San Miguel (4,127) in second district and Estancia (2,005) in the fifth district.

The southern town of Tigbuan in the first district has the least accomplishment of 41.95 percent or 4,130 of the 9,846 dog population vaccinated.

A total of 2,345 stray dogs were also successfully eliminated, according to livestock inspector Darel Tabuada.

Tabuada said the stray dogs were killed using the protocol prescribed in Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.

Responsible pet ownership remained the main thrust of the province’s program to prevent and control rabies because dogs were the principal reservior of rabies.

The Provincial Veterinary Office also increased the number of trained volunteer dog vaccinators in the province to 395 in 2012 from less than a hundred in previous years.

The province’s anti-rabies program is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the World Health Organization and Department of Health.*PNA