JUBA-South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal state said it would roll out next week a vaccination drive targeting 1,500 dogs against rabies in the state.
The vaccination will prevent the dogs from acquiring rabies disease from wildlife or infected animals/dogs and thereby avert possible transmission to humans or other animals.
Samuel Ajing Uguak, Director General at the State Ministry of Anima Resources, told Sudans Post on Thursday that the vaccination exercise would take place next in Aweil town.
“Dogs that are rabid ones are common, and we saw it as significant to vaccinate the dogs. We have secured the vaccines that can cover 1,500 dogs, so it is imperative for our people to turn up next week with their pets,” Ajing said.
He disclosed that only dogs brought to vaccination centers by their owners will receive vaccinations.
He said the vaccination aimed to reduce the high number of bite cases and curb transmission from animal to animal.
According to him, each vaccination would cost the dog owners 3,000 South Sudan pounds.
“The little money that we shall be asking an owner to pay is 3000 SSP. It is a low cost. As you can imagine, if your pet bites a person or a stranger, you can pay 70,000 SSP per vaccine. So this is sort of a free service,” he said.
He stated that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) supplied the vaccines to be used for immunization.
Rabies is present on every continent except Antarctica.
Once rabies symptoms develop, it is nearly always fatal, although there is a brief window after a bite during which a vaccine can prevent the infection from becoming deadly.
