VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) -- The provincial government of Ilocos Sur started its annual mass vaccination against rabies on March 1 in celebration of Rabies Awareness Month, according to Provincial Veterinarian Donna Mae Rosario.

As of March 6, some 800 cats and dogs in Ilocos Sur have received vaccinations.

Rosario said the mass vaccination aims to eliminate all cases of rabies in the province by 2030 through prevention, control, and mitigation.

“Every year, we distribute anti-rabies vaccines to our local government units (LGUs) which will be utilized for the mass vaccination from March to April,” she said in an interview.

Apart from this, livestock coordinators in the province also conduct house-to-house vaccinations, especially for far-flung communities.

She added the provincial veterinary office also conducts information education campaigns to familiarize the general public with vital information about rabies.

“Information education campaigns will help the community to know how rabies is fatal and why we need to cure rabies infection quickly because once an animal exhibits signs, there is no cure for the rabies virus,” Dr. Rosario said.

She urged the public to vaccinate their pets to protect them from the dangers of the rabies virus.

"As pet owners, our responsibility lies in vaccinating our pets and keeping them leashed,” she ended.

The provincial veterinary office aims to vaccinate 56,000 animals of the total 70,000 population of cats and dogs in the province after the monthlong mass vaccination. (JCR/MJTAB/JMCQ/VGS, PIA Ilocos Sur)