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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
Seven people have died of rabies so far this year, with an average of 455 dog bites reported each week and only 21 percent of these dog bites are from vaccinated dogs.
For the past three weeks the Department of Veterinary Services has been carrying a major vaccination campaign in Harare and it is still continuing across all provinces.
Statistics from the department indicates that 13 600 people have been bitten by dogs this year, the major route of transmission of rabies to humans.
Rabies is invariably fatal and the only treatment for humans is vaccination, which is 100 percent effective, soon after the bite or other source of infection before symptoms develop. Animal vaccinations are also 100 percent effective in preventing the disease from spreading.
Stray dogs and unvaccinated dogs are seen as the main risks.
The Department of Veterinary Services chief director Dr Josphat Nyika said his department acquired 90 000 doses of vaccines to vaccinate dogs adding that vaccination is the single most important intervention to curb rabies in animals and humans.
“To date, we lost seven people. All dog owners should vaccinate their dogs since majority are a potential danger to humans. No one should die from dog mediated rabies. We want to record zero deaths by 2030 from dog mediated rabies.
“In terms of rabies vaccine, we acquired 90 000 doses from World Health Organisation (WHO) for rabies vaccine and for the past three weeks we were on the ground vaccinating dogs in Harare. We urge people in major cities, towns and rural areas to ensure that all dogs are vaccinated. Routine vaccinations are done to prevent outbreaks in dogs and cats. In case of outbreaks in other domesticated animals, we do immediate rabies vaccinations of all animals in contact with the rabid animal,” he said.
The only treatment for rabies in a human is prompt vaccination before the symptoms appear.
Once they do appear the prognosis is bad, with death almost certain, hence the need for anyone bitten by a dog to report this immediately so the dog can be checked out and vaccination of the bitten person arranged if there is any doubt.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease, most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal and the rabies virus infects the central nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.
Rabies is 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.
It is one of the most devastating viral diseases affecting mammals, including dogs and humans.
It is a fatal disease caused by infection with the rabies virus. Rabies virus is found throughout the world, including North America, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and some parts of Europe.
Online Reporter