5 die from 60 cases of dog bites in Delta, as Oyo kicks off anti-rabies vaccination campaign

Delta Government has disclosed that the state recorded over 60 incidents of dog bites, just as it confirmed that five persons died as a result of the consequent rabies disease in three months.

This is just as the Oyo Government has commenced anti-rabies vaccination campaign to curb the menace of rabies in the state

In Delta, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Perez Omoun who disclosed the number of fatalities from bites, at the inauguration of sensitisation and campaign against rabies disease in Asaba, themed; ‘All for 1, One Health for All,’ added that the theme defined the need for the collaboration between the ministries, the federal government, and the WHO.

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 commemoration of 17th World Rabies Day, in Asaba.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and his counterparts in Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, and that of Environment, Mr Jamani Ejiro, led the sensitisation and awareness campaign.

Omoun further explained that the need was to combat the disease and ensure health for all in the state and nationwide, adding that given the rising cases of rabies incidents, the state government would soon promulgate a law to regulate 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 outbreaks 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 lamented the situation, said modalities had been put in place to sensitise the general public across the state, further explaining that ‘the reason for this walk for life is to encourage the people to come out and to know about 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 was usually celebrated to ensure that the people were kept safe from dog bites and rabies diseases.

“Rabies is a zonotic disease, which can be transmitted from animals such as dogs, cats, bats among others to humans when bitten.

“Dogs get the rabies virus 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.

Earlier, the State Chief Veterinary Consultant and Director of Veterinary Services, State Ministry, Dr Augustine Ojogbo, said that the state vaccinated no fewer than 6,000 dogs as of December 2022.

He said that the 17th World Rabies Day celebration and the inauguration ceremony of the 2023 rabies campaign in the state had a unique theme that emphasized one health for everyone.

According to Ojogbo, the day is basically marked to sensitise, create awareness, and educate the public on the dangers, prevention, and control.

Meanwhile, the Oyo Government has commenced anti-rabies vaccination campaign to curb the menace of rabies in the state.

State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who made this known on Friday, disclosed that the campaign was in collaborated with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Oyo State Branch.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, quotes Olaleye as saying that the exercise was also part of activities marking the 2023 World Rabies Day, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Olaleye stated that the vaccination programme demonstrated the Oyo State Government’s resolve to eradicate rabies by increasing the availability and accessibility of anti-rabies vaccines in the state.

He said it is important that humans are protected from diseases that are transmissible from animals, as about 70 percent of infectious diseases affecting humans are of animal origin.

“We have also improved our surveillance and reporting systems, to monitor anthrax and every zoonotic disease, to evaluate the impact of our collective interventions.”

He, however, hinted that Oyo State would be ready to partner with any association or group to ensure people of the state are healthy.