Ilocos Norte: The number of rabies cases in Ilocos Norte has been decreasing, with the provincial government attributing it to the continuous anti-rabies vaccination at the barangay level as well as massive information and education drives.
According to Philippines News Agency, Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) chief Dr. Loida Valenzuela noted that the positivity rate dropped from 85.78 percent in 2023 to 74.44 percent in 2024, marking a difference of 11.34 percent. This data is based on 181 confirmed cases in 2023 compared to 68 confirmed cases in 2024.
In a positive trend, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported no rabies cases in the first quarter of 2025, a significant improvement from two cases reported during the same period last year. Dr. Valenzuela highlighted the role of free anti-rabies vaccination drives set up by the PVO, in collaboration with the Municipal Agricultural and City Veterinary Offices, which reached out to remote villages.
Marking Rabies Awareness Month every March, door-to-door vaccinations of cats and dogs are conducted to bring essential government services closer to the people. The province also promotes responsible pet ownership and rabies prevention through community seminars, school visits, and educational materials provided both in print and online. These efforts aim to raise awareness about pet care, rabies signs, and the steps to take after a potential rabies exposure.
Local government units are encouraged to impound stray dogs and ensure they are vaccinated to help eradicate rabies cases in the province. Last month, the Ilocos Norte government distributed anti-rabies vaccines to support cities and municipalities in their extensive vaccination campaigns.
Dr. Valenzuela emphasized the importance of proper pet care, saying, “All we ask of our pets is to tie them up, watch over them, feed them properly, and vaccinate [them], so that we can prevent the spread of this disease.” The PVO continues to visit Ilocos Norte’s 21 towns and two cities to assess if the province can be declared rabies-free.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain in humans and warm-blooded animals, with dogs being the most commonly infected. Early signs include fever and tingling at the bite site, followed by severe symptoms such as excitability, fear of water, paralysis, or loss of consciousness. Once symptoms appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.
