Govt warns of rabies

Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter
Government has called on owners of dogs to ensure their pets are vaccinated against rabbies amid revelations that the majority of people reporting dog bites were bitten by dogs that had not been vaccinated.

In a recent interview with The Herald, disease prevention and epidemiology director Dr Portia Manangazira said the vaccination status of 303 dogs that were involved in the 479 bites that were reported was not known.

From those whose vaccination status was known, 18 percent were not vaccinated.

Dr Manangazira said since the beginning of the year, a total of 8 753 people have reported dog bites, from which more than half of the dogs were either not vaccinated or their vaccination status was not known.

“This is a cause for concern for us because rabies is the most horrible disease one can die from. Victims die barking like dogs,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said furthermore, rabies treatment was also not on the Government procurement list and health institutions buy the drugs with their own money.

“This means the drugs might not be readily available at the time of need hence the need to stay on the side of caution by making sure that dogs are vaccinated,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said the cost of vaccinating dogs against rabies was minimal compared to the cost of treating rabies.

Rabies is endemic in Zimbabwe and many other parts of the SADC region. In Zimbabwe it affects 10 areas Harare, Gokwe North, Gokwe South, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.

According to the department of veterinary services in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, rabies could be eliminated completely if 70 percent of the dog population is constantly vaccinated.

Rabies is a highly fatal viral infection of the nervous system that affects all warm-blooded animal species including humans.

When the virus is transmitted to domesticated carnivores such as dogs and cats, a cycle of transmission begins among domesticated carnivores endangering people.

Once the symptoms of rabies develop in animals or humans, there is no cure and the disease is fatal. Rabies kills 50 000 people worldwide every year.