Marinduque logs all-time low animal rabies cases

BOAC, Marinduque — Marinduque recorded only three positive cases of animal rabies across 2025 and 2026, the Provincial Information Office (PIO) announced Thursday, highlighting the island province’s ongoing animal health and disease control initiatives.

The PIO cited improved compliance among pet owners with anti-rabies vaccination drives and heightened public awareness of responsible pet ownership for the sustained drop in cases.

Alongside rabies control, the Provincial Veterinary Office has intensified animal quarantine inspections at entry ports to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) and implemented mitigation measures against El Niño.

To enhance disease surveillance, provincial authorities plan to expand inter-agency coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard Veterinary Services, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Veterinary Corps, local disaster risk reduction management offices, municipal agriculture offices and rural health units.

Officials said the joint initiative aims to strengthen monitoring for infectious animal diseases, particularly zoonotic illnesses transmissible to humans.

Veterinary personnel will also conduct outreach caravans in rural communities to assist livestock raisers in preventing disease outbreaks and minimizing economic losses.