BUTUAN CITY, March 14 -- At least 14 local government units (LGUs) in the Caraga Region have been declared rabies-free, an official said Tuesday.

In a press briefing here, Dr. Esther Cardeno, the regional animal welfare coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga), seven of the LGUs are from Dinagat Islands province, six in Surigao del Norte, and a city in Surigao del Sur.

Cardeno said the DA-13 is also intensifying its anti-rabies awareness drive after a high rabies positivity rate was noted in the region since January.

"A 38 percent positivity rate is recorded in the first three months this year, compared to the 33 percent recorded in the whole year of 2022," Cardeno said.

Of the 22 samples received in the past thre...