The Bauchi government says it has inoculated 5,000 dogs against rabies across the 20 local government areas.

Ibrahim Bello, the director of Veterinary Services at Bauchi’s agriculture ministry, disclosed this on Monday.

Rabies is a deadly virus spread from the saliva of infected animals to humans. It is usually spread through an animal bite. 

Animals most likely to spread rabies include dogs, bats, coyotes, foxes, skunks and raccoons.

Mr Bello said the vaccination was a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign designed to stem the spread of the disease in Bauchi.

The official added that the ministry would also administer the anti-rabies vaccine to another 5,000 dogs and pets in the next round of immunisation exercise billed to commence on October 19.

He urged dog keepers and pet owners to avail themselves of the opportunity and present their pets for vaccination to protect them against zoonosis.

“The vaccine helps prepare pets’ immune system to fight disease-causing organisms. It contains antigens that resemble disease-causing pathogens and mildly stimulate the immune system,” added Mr Bello.

The director, however, decried the spate of stray dogs in major towns across the state, describing the trend as alarming. He said many dogs had not been registered or licensed with relevant authorities, noting that many rabies-infected dogs could be on the prowl.

The dogs, he said, could be a potential source of transmitting rabies disease, especially unvaccinated ones.

Mr Bello said properly kept dogs present great benefits of companionship, security, health, hunting and research purposes, among others and warned dog owners to stop allowing them to roam without vaccination. 

“It’s dangerous for an unvaccinated dog to bite a person,” the official stressed.

(NAN)