Ebonyi State has recorded eight cases of rabies between January and September.
Dr Daniel Umezurike, the Commissioner for Health in the state gave the figure during Ebonyi Dog-Mediated Human Rabies Control Programme, an event to mark this year’s World Rabies Day, themed “Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths.”
The event was organised by the state Ministry of Agricultural and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Environment as well as Grant and Donor Agencies.
According to Umezurike, five human contacts were line listed, vaccinated and currently under surveillance.
Umezurike described rabies as a viral infection spread via saliva through the bite of a rabies-infected animal in direct contact with human fresh skin wounds.
“Prevention of rabies can be done by eliminating rabies in dogs through vaccination which is the most cost-effective strategy for prevention in people.
“Dog vaccination reduces deaths attributed to dog-mediated rabies,” Umezurike said.
He urged residents in the state to remain calm, go about their businesses, avoid self-medication and report suspected cases to health authorities.
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