Malawians Urged to Vaccinate Dogs, Pets to Curb Rabies
Rabies is 100 percent fatal once symptoms develop, making it a persistent public health concern, according to various studies.
BLANTYRE, Malawi— Mission Rabies, a project of Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS), has urged Malawians to develop a culture of vaccinating their dogs and pets to reduce rabies cases in the country, with an estimated 500 people losing their lives each year from the deadly disease, writes Steven Godfrey Mkweteza.
"Only if at least 70 percent of all dogs are vaccinated, herd immunity can be achieved and the disease can be eliminated in the city," said Inga McDermott, the project's country director, during the launch of the Blantyre city mass dog rabies vaccination campaign.
McDermott explained that over 99 percent of rabies deaths result from dog bites, necessitating the targeting of dogs as the most important source of transmission to prevent human rabies cases.
The annual systematic dog vaccination campaign, now in its tenth year, aims to stop the spread of rabies in Blantyre and shield its citizens from possible exposure.
It will be carried out over five weekends, with a target of vaccinating between 25,000 and 35,000 dogs.
"We will also be offering community outreach neutering campaigns to provide free neuter/sterilization surgeries, which prevent further breeding," McDermott said.
The project will conduct vaccination campaigns in 11 districts, including Blantyre, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mwanza, Neno, Balaka, Phalombe, Mulanje, and Thyolo.
Rabies is 100 percent fatal once symptoms develop, making it a persistent public health concern, according to various studies.