In its efforts to combat rabies, the Karonga District Animal Health Office has vaccinated over 8,600 pets from January to October this year, out of a target of 10,000.
This progress is due to an increasing number of people willing to vaccinate their pets, though the challenge of stray pets continues to hinder the fight.
Michael Mapundi, Karonga’s Animal Health Officer, reported that most dogs and cats in Agricultural Extension Areas identified as rabies hotspots have been vaccinated.
However, he emphasized that the battle against rabies will remain difficult if many pets are allowed to roam uncontrolled.
Mapundi urged pet owners to take responsibility for their animals, as it is difficult for his office to locate and vaccinate stray pets.
Mapundi also pointed out that vaccinating pets is far cheaper than treating a person bitten by a rabies-infected animal.
He explained that while it costs about 100,000 kwacha to treat a human rabies case, the government is offering free vaccines for pets, or owners can pay 12,000 kwacha to have assistant veterinary officers vaccinate their pets.
Meanwhile, Raymond Jereni, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Officer for Karonga District Hospital, noted that while there have been no rabies-related deaths this year, several challenges are slowing down the fight against the disease.
These include logistical issues and a lack of training for health workers and community members on rabies prevention and control.
As of last week, Karonga District Hospital received 70 doses of the rabies vaccine, with the district recording 49 cases of rabies each month.
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