By Joe Favour/Ughelli
Delta state ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has called for the continuous vaccination of pets in other to curb the drift of the deadly rabies disease in the country.
Speaking in Warri, Delta state, Dr. Uguru Oroghene Hyacinth at a One-Day Rabies Day Celebration tagged: Facts Not Fear said, “Currently, human health is confronted with a lot of diverse health challenges mainly due to infectious and non infectious diseases (disorders), some of which are zoonotic in nature.
“Rabies is a major public health problem. Rabies is a silent but vicious disease of dogs, cats, ferrets, carnivorous bats and It is a zoonotic disease (a disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans and vice versa).
“It is of public health importance being that it affects human with fatal consequences. A bite or wound contact with a rabid dog’s saliva is enough to contract rabies which could lead to death.
According to Dr. Uguru, Prevention and elimination of rabies in humans is achieved basically through reduction in transmission risk factors by eliminating rabies in dogs and other reservoirs host.
“This can be accomplished through sustained mass dog vaccination campaigns, control of dog population, responsible dog ownership and worthy of mention is the synergistic effect of “ONE WORLD, ONE HEALTH APPROACH” which entails collaboration, partnership and coordination for rabies elimination activities that comes from human health, animal health sectors and other relevant stakeholders.
It has been established that National mass dog vaccination campaigns are the most cost effective strategy for preventing rabies. In order to achieve this, 70 – 80% of dog population must be vaccinated in order to break the circle of transmission in dogs and to humans.
Lauding the the Delta State government under Sen Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr. Uguru further said, “Delta state has the foundation and structures to make rabies which is almost uniformly a fatal disease readily preventable.
“And today, we are building on that existing framework with this celebration.
“The Governor of Delta State, to have deemed It necessary for approving annual vaccination of dogs and cats as a preventive tool toward elimination of rabies our state”. Dr Uguru revealed.
“Let me conclude by thanking all here present, Hon, Julius Egbedi, Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Dr. Charles Diai the Director of Veterinary Services”.
