Veterinarians vaccinate street dogs against rabies

According to the chairman, Dr Oladapo Collins, the exercise is part of programmes mapped out by veterinarians to sensitise the populace about rabies infection and the need to eradicate it.According to Collins, rabies infection which is transmitted from animal to man is quite lethal and is capable of killing its victim within a few days.He […]

According to the chairman, Dr Oladapo Collins, the exercise is part of programmes mapped out by veterinarians to sensitise the populace about rabies infection and the need to eradicate it.
According to Collins, rabies infection which is transmitted from animal to man is quite lethal and is capable of killing its victim within a few days.
He said most pets especially dogs are likely carriers of the virus and can easily transfer it through their saliva.
“Rabies is 100 percent fatal and it is caused by virus infecting both animals and humans through saliva emitted from a dog, cat, fox, bat, racoon or skunk. Most people who have contacted it got it through harmful bites by the animals. But we need to know that over 95 per cent of human rabies result from bite of a dog,” Collins said.
Collins said that it is alarming that about 55,000 people die from rabies annually, meaning that in every 10 minute, one person dies from this virus. He also lamented that most Nigerians who are affected by it always patronise traditional doctors who have little knowledge of the virus.
Also speaking the Chapter’s Secretary, Dr Mobolaji Alao said the veterinarian’s gesture is targeted at 200 dogs in Lagos State, noting that having captured and treated 70 dogs, the Lagos State government is expected to extend the vaccination of 130 dogs to other parts of the state.