2 towns in Marinduque under state of calamity due to rabies cases

Authorities placed two towns in Marinduque under a state of calamity due to their high number of rabies cases.

These are Boac and Buenavista, according to Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Josue Victoria.

Victoria said there were two human deaths and 89 reported rabies cases in dogs in several towns.

Of the 89 reported cases in dogs, 42 have been confirmed in laboratory tests.

“May outbreak na sa Boac. High risk na rin 'yung other municipalities tulad ng Buenavista, ng Gasan, at saka Mogpog,” Victoria told reporters in a phone interview.

(There is an outbreak in Boac. Other municipalities such as Buenavista, Gasan, and Mogpog are already at high risk.)

“Nag-start 'yung outbreak sa Boac, 'yung capital town. Nag-spill over na ito sa bayan ng Gasan. Nag-spillover na rin ito doon sa northern part, 'yung bayan ng Mogpog. And meron na ring mga cases sa, mabilis 'yung pagkalat ng rabies sa bayan ng Buenavista,” he added.

(The outbreak started in Boac, the capital town. This spilled over to the town of Gasan. There was also a spillover in the northern part, in the town of Mogpog. And there are cases in the town of Buenavista where rabies cases are spreading fast.)

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dante Palabrica said an animal disease investigation was triggered after a 16-year old died because of rabies on Sept 18, 2023.

Rabid dogs have also bitten six pigs, three cattle, and a Philippine brown deer.

While Victoria explained that the Philippine brown deer will not be able to infect other wildlife, stray rabid dogs can.

“Siya lang ang mai-infect. Kaya lang unfortunately, ang wildlife sanctuary namin, walang bakod. Kaya ang bottom line pa rin dito is sa stray dogs, puwedeng magkaroon ng incursion doon sa aming wildlife sanctuary at mag-inflict ng damage sa aming mga wildlife,” Victoria said.

(Only the said Philippine brown deer is infected. Unfortunately, there is no fence around our wildlife sanctuary. The bottom line is that stray dogs can still spread the rabies virus to our wildlife sanctuary.)

When asked how rabies cases increased in Marinduque, Victoria explained, “During pandemic, nagkaroon ng kakulangan sa pagkain. Pinawalan ang mga aso, hindi na maalagaan at nag-lockdown. After ng pandemic, biglang dumami 'yung population ng aso sa amin. Alam naman natin ang Marinduque ay island province so walang ibang pupuntahan 'yung dumaraming bilang ng aso. Nagkaroon ng incursion coming from other province so na-infect 'yung aming population.”

(During pandemic, there was a lack of food supply. Dogs were allowed to roam around as they were not properly cared for and there was a lockdown. After the pandemic, the dog population grew. We know that Marinduque is an island province so there is no other place for dogs to go. There was an incursion from another province so our [dog] population was infected [with the rabies virus].)

Victoria also stressed that while there have been thousands of reported dog bites in humans, the number of deaths are limited to two owing to the purchase of the Provincial Health Office and the Provincial Hospital of anti-rabies vaccines for people.

The province is also conducting mass vaccinations of dogs and cats.

“You need a rabid dog or a cat to transfer the virus. And by biting the other animal, you transfer it. So yes, nanggagaling lahat sa aso’t pusa (it all starts from a dog or cat),” Palabrica explained.

Palabrica also assured that animals that died because of rabies have been properly buried. —KG, GMA Integrated News