A total of 117 cats and dogs were vaccinated following the first reported case of rabies in Barangay Calawis, Antipolo City on Wednesday, September 11.
The City Veterinary Office said that it was the first case in the city prompting the local government to immediately conduct a ring vaccination.
“Patay na ang aso nang ma-imbestigahan at ma-kompirma natin na infected ito. So far ay wala naman pong bite victims ang naitala (The dog was already dead when we investigated and confirmed the infection. So far, no bite victims have been reported),” Mayor Jun Ynares said.
The vaccination was conducted to ensure safety and prevent the possible spread of the virus.
The mayor urged fur parents or pet owners to have their pets vaccinated to ensure their family's safety.
He added that the schedule for the next round of mass anti-rabies vaccinations will be announced soon.
In January 2023, the local government introduced an Immunochromatographic Test kit (ICT kit) for rabies which supports the easy, fast, and accurate diagnosis of the disease.
According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), rabies diagnosis takes about 2 to 3 hours with the use of a microscope and an incubator in normal circumstances.
However, with the use of ICT kits, diagnosis is radically sped up to 20 to 30 minutes, which accelerates detection and the immediate start of treatment.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2023/1/20/antipolo-city-launches-radss-for-rabies-detection-containment