Delta Government has revealed that the state has recorded over 60 incidents and five fatalities caused by rabies disease due to dog bites in three months in the state.
Perez Omoun, the Commissioner for Agriculture, said this on Thursday in Asaba at the inauguration of sensitisation and campaign against rabies disease in Delta.
The State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Federal Government and World Health Organisation (WHO) embarked on a road walk against rabies disease in Asaba to sensitise the public in commemoration of the 17th World Rabies Day, in Asaba.
The sensitisation and awareness campaign.was led by Jamani Ejiro, the Commissioner for Agriculture and his counterparts in Health and Environment.
Omoun said the theme “All for 1, One Health for All” defined the need for collaboration between the ministries, the Federal Government and WHO
According to him, the aim is to combat the disease and ensure good health for all in the state and nationwide.
He said that given the rising cases of rabies incidents, the state government would soon promulgate a law to regulate the ownership of dogs and cats in the state.
According to him, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori has made it imperative to sustain the annual free vaccination programme for the prevention of rabies in dogs with the provision of funds.
“Sadly, the state has recorded rabies outbreak in Okpanam and Effurun. Five persons have reportedly died of rabies between June and September this year.
“The fatality would have been more but for the swift and timely intervention of the State Veterinary Services Department, Ministry of Agriculture and the one health team of Delta state.
“It is pertinent to note that there are increased cases of dog bites in the state and in order to address dog ownership among others, the state government will soon come up with the dog and cat control law,’’
Also the Commissioner for Health, Onojaeme, who also lamented the situation, said modalities had been put in place to sensitise the general public across the state.
According to him, the reason for this walk for life is to encourage the people to come out and to know that the rabies that is killing them is very fertile.
“In recent times five people have been reported dead but it is good for the people to know that it is curable if you report to the hospital on time.
“In the last two months, we had reported cases of dog bites in the state, the victims were managed but for those that came late,” Onojaeme said.
On her part, Dr Mildred Okowa, State Epidemiologist, said that the day is usually celebrated to ensure that people are kept safe from dog bites and rabies diseases.
“Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which can be transmitted from animals such as dogs, cats, and bats among others to humans when bitten.
“The dogs get the rabies viruses when bitten by infected bats, foxes and other animals in the wild during hunting, as you know in Nigeria, we use dogs for hunting animals in the wild.
“So, when an infested dog bites you, even if it is just a scratch, you know will surely come down with the rabies disease and its incubation period ranges from three weeks to three months or up to a year depending on what part of the body the dog bites the victim.
“So, when you are bitten by a dog, it is very important you report immediately to the nearest health facility to get first exposure prophylaxes (treatment).
“This prophylaxes (treatment) is a series of vaccines to prevent you from coming down with rabies following a dog bite.
“This is because rabies is 100 per cent fertile and that means that once the doctor identifies that you have rabies, it may be fatal,” she said.
Okowa urged all dog owners to ensure that their dogs were vaccinated annually, adding that the sensitisation was aimed at averting further deaths due to rabies in the state.
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