QuestionsQuestions (BAI JOINT DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 01)
It is guided by Republic Act No. 9482 (Anti-Rabies Act of 2007), a 1991 Memorandum of Agreement among DA, DOH, DepEd, and DILG, and related executive and statutory policies (EO 84, BP Blg. 97), plus DOH issuances and WHO/OIE standards. The main implementing agencies cited are the DA (BAI) and DOH, working with LGUs and other partners such as DepEd, DILG, veterinary groups, NGOs, POs, and the academe.
To prevent and eliminate human and animal rabies by establishing zones/areas where there have been no confirmed human or animal rabies cases and where specific surveillance, vaccination, import control, and other requirements are satisfied.
An area with no confirmed human or animal rabies case, bats, or indigenously acquired infection by a lyssavirus during the previous two (2) years in the presence of an adequate surveillance system and import policy, and after satisfying all criteria for declaration.
A Rabies-Free Zone/Area has no confirmed indigenous infection for the previous two years with adequate surveillance and import policy and meeting all requirements. A Provisional Rabies-Free Zone/Area is historically free of rabies, has adequate surveillance and effective import policy, but fails to meet other requirements for full declaration.
General objectives include declaring provinces/cities/municipalities/islands as rabies-free zones and sustaining their rabies-free status. Specific objectives include identifying eligible LGUs, providing technical/logistic assistance to attain and maintain status, and validating/confirming rabies-free status based on DA-BAI and DOH criteria.
Examples include: (1) rabies is notifiable and LGUs must report promptly; (2) no indigenous acquired rabies infection confirmed in humans and any animal species during the past two years per OIE/WHO requirements; (3) effective disease surveillance for humans and animals is set up and implemented; (4) regulatory measures implemented including shipping/transport procedures; (5) accessibility of post-exposure treatment using modern cell culture vaccines; (6) established mechanism to ensure availability of human anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin; (7) regular health education/advocacy including school curriculum integration.
Key requirements include: (a) no indigenous acquired infection by a type 1 lyssavirus confirmed in any animal species (including bats) at any time during the previous two years via monthly zero-case reporting; (b) a comprehensive animal rabies vaccination program for two years; (c) laboratory-based surveillance system in operation, including functional FAT laboratories with coverage and referral and impounding systems; (d) enforcement of control measures on stray dogs per ordinance; (e) animal birth control components in place; (f) effective Rabies Control Committee at provincial/city/municipal and barangay levels; (g) effective dog movement control with vaccination certificates/conditions.
Functional rabies laboratories performing Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT) for rabies diagnosis in a minimum of 0.02% of the estimated dog population in designated catchment zones per year; a functional referral system for confirmation of cases in the region; and an impounding facility/system for clinically suspect rabid dogs regardless of exposure involvement.
There must be: (a) no indigenous acquired lyssavirus infection in humans at any time during the previous two years via monthly zero-case reporting; (b) adequate rabies surveillance under PIDSR, including referral for laboratory confirmation (FAT or PCR/antigen detection), involvement of sentinel and non-sentinel sites (health centers, ABTCs, hospitals), monthly reporting with zero-case reporting, at least one staff trained to investigate suspects, and immediate case investigation with outbreak declaration and response if a confirmed case occurs in a declared rabies-free area; (c) readily accessible post-exposure treatment and a mechanism to ensure vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin availability; and (d) health education/advocacy including responsible pet ownership and proper animal bite wound care plus integration into the Elementary School curriculum and observance of Rabies Awareness Month.
The Order requires immediate reporting, investigation, and confirmation; then immediate control measures such as site-specific mass vaccination of dogs, surveillance, movement control, and information campaign; afterwards, the status must be re-evaluated six months after the last vaccination date.
Rabies-free status shall be restored in writing by both the DA and DOH Secretaries.
Six (6) months after the last vaccination date.
Report and investigate incursion, confirm cases, immediately institute control measures (mass vaccination, surveillance, movement control, IEC), re-evaluate six months after last vaccination, and restore status only by DA and DOH Secretaries in writing.
The Governor and City/Municipal Mayors must implement the guidelines and allocate funds for animal and human vaccine procurement. Barangay officials must support “Bantay Rabis sa Barangay” for entry of new dogs and maintenance of dog registry. Rabies Control Committees oversee implementation and maintenance of rabies-free status. LGU Epidemiology/Surveillance units continue human rabies surveillance under PIDSR.
DA-BAI and DOH initiate implementation activities, monitoring and evaluation, and declaration using rabies-free parameters; they conduct joint periodic monitoring; DA-BAI and DOH through regional rabies control committees supervise and assess rabies-free zones. RADDL continues routine animal surveillance, investigates animal rabies occurrence, and provides monthly reports to the National Rabies Committee.
DILG regional/provincial directors monitor compliance of Local Chief Executives and their roles under the 1991 Memorandum of Agreement.
DOH provides human anti-rabies immunizing agents to Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) through CHDs, and provides pre-exposure treatment for high-risk groups such as health staff, animal handlers/vaccinators, veterinarians/diagnosticians, and children below 15 years of age in highly endemic areas.
Effectivity: it takes effect immediately. Repealing clause: it rescinds the provisions of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program Manual of Operation (National Rabies Committee, CY2001) and any other issuances inconsistent with the Order.