The Quezon City Government has announced a huge drop of rabies cases in the city due to the continuous and expanded anti-rabies vaccination and animal castration drives of the City Veterinary Department.

“From being one of the top 10 cities with highest rabies cases in the Philippines in 2018, QC is no longer in the list. That is because of our ramped-up inoculation drives to eradicate the virus from our pets,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Based on the data of Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), QC has recorded a 65 percent drop in rabies cases from 2018 to 2019. From 17 cases, the city was able to bring down its number to 8.

From January to September 2021, the City Veterinary Department was able to give anti-rabies shots to 82,241 pets in the city, and 1,817 animals underwent spay and neuter procedures.

According to City Veterinarian Dr. Ana Marie Cabel, despite the pandemic, the city continues to conduct anti-rabies vaccination drives and spay and neuter procedures in the city’s 142 barangays.

“Mabilis ang pagkalat ng rabies sa ating mga alagang hayop kaya kahit mababa na ang ating rabies cases, patuloy pa rin ‘yung pag-iikot natin sa lungsod para makapagbigay ng libreng anti-rabies vaccine sa mga alaga natin at spay and neuter para makontrol ang pagdami ng mga hayop,” Dr. Cabel explained.

Aside from the vaccination and castration programs, the city has also ramped-up impounding stray animals that are usually the carriers of the rabies virus.

If a person was bitten by an animal, he/ she should report to the nearest health center. He/ she will then be referred to the city’s animal bite center for proper treatment.

“Rabies can be fatal to humans if not treated kaya if a person gets bitten, kailangan magpabakuna na agad. Rabies is 100 percent preventable kapag nagamot agad,” Cabel added.

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