The Delta State Government said it has recorded over 60 cases of rabies and five deaths in two months.
Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this on Thursday after a walk to mark the World Rabies Day in Asaba.
The essence of the walk, according to Onojaeme, was to sensitise the public about rabies and the need to urgently report cases to hospitals to avoid death.
While he reiterated that over 60 cases have been recorded in two months; he noted that those who did not report the case on time died. He therefore appealed to the people to vaccinate their dogs.
“If a dog is vaccinated, we have 90 percent of the rabies cases solved,” he said.
Also, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Mildred Okowa, disclosed that apart from the 60 rabies cases reported and five deaths recorded; two persons got paralysed.
“If a dog is vaccinated, it will not carry rabies, as such, even if it bites a human being, the person will not go down with rabies,” he said, noting that rabies is fatal but preventable.
Explaining further, Okowa stated that the incubation period of rabies ranges from three weeks to three months, emphasizing that early reports to the nearest hospital will help in prevention of death.
According to the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Perez Omoun, over 6,000 dogs were vaccinated in 2022; assuring that the state will continue to sensitise the public on rabies.
