PRACTICAL INTER SECTORAL LINKING
The Development Process
OPERATIONAL PROTOCOL FOR
PRACTICAL LINKING OF ANIMAL
AND HUMAN HEALTH SECTORS
FOR RABIES INVESTIGATION,
RESPONSE AND REPORTING
BARANGAY
Barangay to bite victim
1. ADVISE the bite victim to do 1staid (flushing, etc.)
2. REFER AND ASSIST the patient to RHU or ABTC whichever is nearer
3. FACILITATE issuance of needed documents eg., certificate of indigency
4. REQUIRE the owner to leash/cage the animal for observation
5. INFORM and INSTRUCT the owner of biting animal to MAO/CVO if biting animal
dies.
6. ENSURE that all involved persons and agencies (bite victim, dog owner, RHU,
ABTC) know the result of laboratory test of the head sample (whether negative or
positive) to take necessary actions
BARANGAY
Barangay to Municipal level (CVO/MAO/RHU/ABTC):
5. SEND ADVANCE INFO to RHU or ABTC via text or other means
6. REPORT the biting incidence to CVO/MAO/RHU through text
7. REQUEST for animal bite investigation to MAO and assist in its conduct
Internal (Barangay)
8. PREPARE a blotter report at the barangay level
9. INFORM and INSTRUCT the owner of the biting animal
10. ENSURE strict enforcement and compliance of rabies control ordinance
Municipal Health Office (MHO) / City Health Office (CHO) /
Rural Health Unit (RHU)
RHU/CHO to bite victim
1. MANAGE the case per standard protocol
2. MAINTAIN a registry of animal bite cases
3. TRACE AND SCREEN contacts of human cases
4. ENSURE that rabies vaccines and RIG are made available to bite victims.
RHU/CHO to Barangay
4. COORDINATE with barangay council in cases of category III/unprovoked
bite cases and those with positive lab results of animals.
5. COORDINATE with rural health midwife (or other relevant posts) regarding
defaulters especially on category III bites/unprovoked bite cases
Municipal Health Office (MHO) / City Health Office (CHO) /
Rural Health Unit (RHU)
RHU/CHO to MAO
6. IMMEDIATELY INFORM MAO by sending name, address, and other info via text
RHU/CHO to PHO
7. Submit report to PHO/RHO
Internal
• 8. Lobby thru Local Health Board (LHB) and/or Municipal/City Rabies Control
Committee (MRCC) through enforcement of Municipal ordinance on RCP;
Increase budget for RCP
9. Strengthen MRCC
Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC)
1. APPLY standard management procedures.
2. PROVIDE feedback to PHO
3. ADVISE patient to report the biting incident to MAO.
4. PROVIDE CVO/MAO of total biting incident per municipality (every month) – for
pick up
by MAO/CVO.
5. PREPARE data for sharing for Category III, unprovoked or with suspicious dog
history for sharing with CVO/MAO/PVO (every week)
6. INFORM MHO/CHO/PHO
7. FOLLOW UP / REMIND patient of the vaccination
Provincial Health Office (PHO)
1. CONDUCT case investigation and contact tracing in the event that a
probable case is reported
2. PROVIDE technical assistance at all levels
3. INFORM AND COORDINATE with PVO regarding the event
4. COLLECT data from ABTC regarding Category III, unprovoked or with
suspicious dog history
5. Strengthen PRCC
Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO)
MAO/CVO to bite victim/dog owner/dog/Barangay:
1. REFER the patient to MHO/RHU/ABTC.
2. INVESTIGATE the biting incident.
3. COORDINATE with the dog owner in monitoring the dog.
4. KEEP the biting dog for observation for 14 days.
5. FACILITATE / PROVIDE technical assistance in submitting dog sample in the event the biting dog
dies within the observation period.
6. REVIEW the vaccination status of the Barangay where the biting incident happened, and respond
accordingly.
7. CONDUCT ring vaccination in the event of a positive canine or human rabies case.
8. IDENTIFY / IMPOUND other animals that came in contact with the positive dog and humanely
sacrifice if necessary.
9. INTENSIFY stray dog management in the affected and nearby barangays.
10. ALARM / INFORM the neighbouring Barangay.
Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO)
MAO/CVO to RHU/CHO/ABTC
11. INFORM the RHU/CHO/ABTC if the animal was confirmed positive (so they can follow up
the patient).
MAO/CVO to PVO
12. SUBMIT the investigation report to PVO and FURNISH copy to MHO/CHO.
13. SUBMIT incident report / action taken to PVO.
Others
14. STRENGTHEN cold management of anti-rabies vaccines from storage house to actual
vaccination of dogs.
15. RECOMMEND to Sangguniang Bayan to declare state of calamity if there is
16. CONDUCT normative procedures (eg., IEC, train, educate public, strengthen MRCC, etc.)
Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO)
1 Facilitate submission to RADDL 5.
2. VALIDATE investigation reports submitted by MAO/CVO/MVO.
3. SUBMIT validated reports to Regional Rabies Coordinator.
4. INFORM PHO regarding the bite victim (for probable or confirmed case detected).
5. PROVIDE assistance to LGU.
6. COORDINATE with different line agencies.
7. CONDUCT normative procedures (eg., coordinate with DA regarding training of
field workers, IEC, strengthen PRCC etc.).
8. INFORM / ALARM neighbouring town of areas with new cases (human and canine)
and urge to take action as well.
Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) DA Regional Field Offices
(DA-RFOs) and Regional Rabies Coordinators (RRC)
1. TEST submitted head samples (RADDL)
2. NOTIFY LGUs/sending of the lab result (RADDL)
3. COORDINATE quick response to concerned LGUs once the sample turns up
positive
4. INVESTIGATE the incidence the incidence by LGU concerned
5. COLLATE and SUMMARIZE investigation results
6. SUBMIT incidence report submitted by PVO to DA-BAI
7. PROVIDE vaccine support to LGU
8. COORDINATE/SHARE positive result information to ABTC and DOH-RO