Abuja: Livestock Management Services (LMS) has announced a crucial requirement for Nigeria to vaccinate 70% of its dog population to effectively interrupt rabies transmission. The persistent gaps in vaccination coverage are reportedly sustaining outbreaks of the disease across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Bala Muhammed, Director and Chief Executive Officer of LMS, emphasized in an interview on the importance of achieving this vaccination target. The comments were made in Abuja during the commemoration of 'World Rabies Day,' a day dedicated to raising awareness about rabies prevention and the significance of vaccination. World Rabies Day, observed annually on September 28, also pays tribute to Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine.
Muhammed pointed out that over 99% of human rabies cases stem from hunting and free-roaming community dogs that come into contact with wildlife, subsequently spreading rabies to domestic animals and humans. He highlighted the necessity for targeted vaccination of these community dogs to mitigate the outbreak of rabies.
He called on the government, NGOs, community leaders, and donors to mobilize resources for free mass vaccination, establish mobile clinics, subsidize training for local vaccinators, and map dog populations. Additionally, Muhammed stressed the importance of education in schools and neighborhoods, enforcing dog registration, and ensuring accessibility to Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to save lives, especially among children.
Globally, an estimated 59,000 people die from rabies each year, with 99% of cases being dog-mediated. Africa accounts for approximately 21,000 of these deaths. In Nigeria, estimates range from 1,000 to 2,000 human deaths annually, with tens of thousands more dog-bite exposures recorded, disproportionately affecting children under 15.
Muhammed urged for collective responsibility across Nigeria, where rabies remains endemic. He advocated for responsible pet ownership, including registration, confinement, and annual vaccination, to protect families and livestock. He also noted that while PEP can be costly and logistically challenging, vaccinating dogs would prevent human suffering and reduce the need for expensive PEP treatments.
The commemoration calls on dog owners to vaccinate and contain their animals, and on health and veterinary services to coordinate Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM) and ensure PEP access. Policymakers are encouraged to fund mass vaccination and surveillance, community education, and local mobilization to raise awareness about the hazards of unvaccinated dogs.