VACCINATE YOUR PETS
VACCINATE YOUR PETS: The ministry of agriculture is calling on all pet owners to vaccinate their pets in order to prevent humans from contracting rabies, which could be fatal.
Ministry spokesperson Jona Musheko said: “We encourage pet owners to remember to vaccinate their pets against rabies. We are aware that dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans."
He said over the past years, there has been a decrease in rabies cases in humans, from 26 cases in 2016 to two cases annually. He added that the aim is for the figure to get to zero and that can only be achieved if responsible pet owners vaccinate their pets.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. The virus is present in the saliva and brains of infected animals and is typically transmitted through biting. Clinical signs may initially be nonspecific but commonly include abnormal behaviour, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, aggression, self-mutilation, and biting.
The ministry conducts outreach programmes where veterinarians visit communities and vaccinate pets for free.
PHOTO: Kenya Kambowe
Ministry spokesperson Jona Musheko said: “We encourage pet owners to remember to vaccinate their pets against rabies. We are aware that dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans."
He said over the past years, there has been a decrease in rabies cases in humans, from 26 cases in 2016 to two cases annually. He added that the aim is for the figure to get to zero and that can only be achieved if responsible pet owners vaccinate their pets.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. The virus is present in the saliva and brains of infected animals and is typically transmitted through biting. Clinical signs may initially be nonspecific but commonly include abnormal behaviour, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, aggression, self-mutilation, and biting.
The ministry conducts outreach programmes where veterinarians visit communities and vaccinate pets for free.
PHOTO: Kenya Kambowe
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