Boracay, Guimaras raise number of rabies-free islands to 14

MANILA, Philippines -- World famous Boracay in Aklan and Guimaras province were declared “rabies-free” by the Departments of Health and of Agriculture, raising the number of islands that have registered zero incidence of the fatal disease for at least three consecutive years to 14.

The declaration was made Friday, "World Rabies Day."

The other islands previously declared rabies-free are Siquijor, Batanes, Biliran, Camiguin, Marinduque, Limasawa, Camotes, Olimpia in Bais City and Apo, both in Negro Oriental, and Palawan’s Coron, Culion and Busuanga.

All these places effectively eliminated human and animal rabies, primarily by vaccinating 70 percent of the dog population and impounding strays.

"Rabies is considered as a neglected disease. That is because even if it is 100 percent fatal, it is also 100 percent preventable," Health Secretary Enrique Ona noted.

The disease " continues to be a significant public health problem that is responsible for 200 to 250 deaths annually,” he added. “In 2012, a total of 213 rabies cases and 414,553 animal bites were reported to the DOH."

For decades, said Ona, "effective and safe vaccines to prevent the disease in humans and animals have been available."

"Therefore, none of these deaths need have occurred if we had only made use of the tools necessary to prevent rabies from infecting and killing both humans and animals," he stressed.

He acknowledged that poverty and ignorance are the main obstacles to rabies prevention and elimination.

The Philippines hopes to eliminate rabies by 2020.

Rabies naturally affects only mammals and is transmitted to humans and between animals through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite. In the Philippines, dog bites are responsible for 87 percent of human transmission.

Its initial symptoms include fever, pain or unusual or unexplained tingling and burning sensations or pricking at the site of the wound. When the virus spreads to the central nervous system, it could lead to the fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cords.

Region 4-A reported the most number of human rabies cases (37); followed by Region 1 (22); Region 3 (20); Region 2 (19) and Region 12 and Region 9 (18 cases each).

"The key to successful rabies elimination rests on combined efforts of effective dog vaccination program as part of responsible pet ownership and human vaccination after rabies exposure from rabid dog bites," Ona said.

Dog vaccination is mandatory under Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies  Act of 2007.

Ona said immunizing a dog ever year costs only P20 compared to P1,500 for vaccinating a person bitten by a dog.

source: interaksyon.com

Rafael Rosell goes 'green'

BORACAY, Aklan – Seeing how dire the environment’s situation has become, Rafael Rosell believes that every effort—great and small—to save Mother Nature matters.

Rosell, who is in Boracay for the 15th Nestea Beach Volleyball event, joined the shore clean up activity on April 20 and lamented how much beach-goers have been negligent in putting away trash properly.

“I’m not saying that [for any other reason], but I’m a nature person talaga eh. I love surfing eh tapos lagi kami sa dagat so alam namin ‘yung consequences kapag sobrang dami ng basura sa dagat.” Rosell told Bulletin Entertainment and select members of the press who were flown in for the Nestea event Friday.

Rosell hopes even more people would get involved in maintaining the beaches in the country, especially Boracay, which he describes as the “pinakamagandang isla sa buong mundo.”

According to Rosell, it's not only Mother Nature that has been suffering from people's irresponsibility. In fact, he underscored that people are more likely to feel its effect as “hindi na masayang mag-swimming" as beaches become more polluted.

The 30-year-old model-actor, who's been to Boracay countless time before, enthused that a lot of things have changed in Boracay from the first time he visited the island. For one, there are more resorts that have sprung like mushrooms along the shores.

In turn, “Now there’s more people. From the first time na pumunta ako dito ngayon may lumot na, na I think it’s done by us din kasi if you pollute the water namamatay ‘yung algae tsaka nawa-wash sa shore,” he said.

Then, of course, when there are more people, it follows that more trash is being produced, and it worries Rosell.

“Honestly para siyang city na may beach. And if people prefer that then tara, let’s continue what we’re doing [throwing trash everywhere]. But if we still want nature, tara linisin natin kahit konti man lang ‘di ba?” he encouraged.

Green living

Before judging him as being “pretentiously green” for the sake of the event, Rosell proudly shared that he practices green at home in Manila. His green lifestyle doesn’t solely include the “no throwing of trash outside the car window” rule.

He admits to being strict about observing such a rule even encouraging his peers to take his cue.

“I tell my friends not to throw garbage out of the car. Kasi ang dali dali nalang eh. Just put it in your bag or put it in your pocket, ‘di ba? Mas malaki ang magagawa no’n kesa itapos mo lang sa labas,” Rosell pointed out.

Using those increasingly becoming popular eco-friendly bags is also part of Rosell’s environmental efforts.

“I have this grocery shop na lagi akong pumupunta, I bring that tela na bag. I guess that’s my little contribution,” states Rosell.

He also participates in Earth Hour, the worldwide initiative encouraging households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change. More, whenever he’s at home, he tries not to use the aircon in as much as to save electricity and do his share in lessening carbon monoxide emissions.

In terms of food choices, the actor opts for greens as well. Apart from being fond of leafy salads, Rosell revealed that he’s been a pescetarian for over two years now.

“I’m a pescetarian. I don’t eat meat, pork and chicken. I did research kasi on how they process everything and I told myself, ‘yeah I’ll stick to fish na lang,’” he shared.

However, he quickly stressed that shunning meats is a “personal choice” and that he’s not “preaching” to convert people.

Rosell said the switch to becoming a no-meat person melded pretty well with his lifestyle because “‘Pag kinakain mo naman ‘yung gusto mo, there’s really no challenge in anything, ‘di ba, because you love what you’re doing.”

Rosell together with Matteo Guidicelli, Jake Cuenca, Bianca Manalo, Karylle, Erich Gonzales and Derek Ramsay are the celebrity guests in the 15th Nestea Beach Volleyball event in Boracay from April 19-21.

source: mb.com.ph