Philippine Journal of Science
150 (5): 1153-1167, October 2021
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 24 Mar 2021

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Canine Rabies
and the Rabies Control Program in Davao City,
Southern Philippines, 2005–2017

Kenneth P. Montajes¹, Arlene Lagare², Ma. Noreen Eng²,
Gloria Marquez², Pedro A. Alviola IV³, and Lyre Anni E. Murao⁴*

¹Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science
University of the Philippines Mindanao, Davao City 8000 Philippines
²City Veterinarian’s Office, 2nd Floor City Hall Annex Bldg.
Pichon St., Davao City 8000 Philippines
³School of Management, University of the Philippines Mindanao, Davao City 8000 Philippines
⁴Department of Biological Science and Environmental Studies
University of the Philippines Mindanao, Davao City 8000 Philippines

*Corresponding author: lemurao@up.edu.ph

 

ABSTRACT

 

Rabies is a neglected tropical disease that continues to be a public health threat despite the government’s intention to eliminate it by 2022. Specifically, Davao City has implemented the Intensified Rabies Control Program (IRCP), but animal rabies remains endemic, primarily due to canine transmission. Understanding the dynamics of rabies and its control is critical in formulating strategies to hasten disease eradication. This study utilized hotspot analysis on reported canine rabies cases in Davao City from 2005–2017 to determine the spatiotemporal behavior of the disease pre- and post-IRCP. Around 42% of the barangays have had at least one reported case of canine rabies, most of which were owned dogs (82.0%) and unvaccinated or non-updated vaccination (80.1%). Using the Getis-Ord statistic, five hotspot clusters were detected during pre-IRCP, which was reduced to three new clusters in post-IRCP – all of which were highly populated barangays (> 9,000 residents). The hotspot clusters shifted to neighboring areas with recurrent hotspot barangays located at the junction of this shift, suggesting spillover mediated by the hotspots. The number of rabies cases (mean per barangay of 0.797 pre-IRCP and 0.610 post-IRCP), proportion of affected barangays (33.5% pre-IRCP and 30.2% postIRCP), and rate of improper vaccination (mean per barangay of 31.8% pre-IRCP and 28.8% post-IRCP) did not significantly decrease post-IRCP, suggesting the need to boost the vaccination program and responsible pet ownership. There was no systematic geographical distribution of rabies control programs, hence prioritizing high-risk areas through hotspot analysis provides an efficient alternative to addressing the problem