Ghana has recorded 603 rabies cases in the last four years with Ashanti, Greater Accra, Upper East, Western and Central regions being the most reported outbreaks.
The Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Yaw Fenteng Danso, who stated this at a durbar in Asuofia near Barekese in Ashanti Region, said rabbies is 100% preventable.
According to Dr. Fenteng Danso, between 2023 and 2024, the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) has vaccinated 172,000 doses of dogs and cats covering 20% coverage over the period.
The upsurge in rabies cases, Fenteng Danso attributed to apathy of pet owners. He stated: “The increase in the incidence of rabies in several parts of Ghana lately has been blamed on the low vaccination coverage (20%) that can be attributed to owner apathy, perceived high cost of vaccination and failure to sanction dog owners who did not vaccinate their dogs.
Dr Yaw Fenteng also expressed worry about misconception that hunting dogs underperform after being vaccinated.
“There is an erroneous belief among hunters that hunting dogs underperform after they have been vaccinated against rabies,” he noted.
He made these assertions at the World Rabies Day Celebration. As part of the celebration, the Veterinary Services provided free anti-rabies vaccination for pets in Asuofua and its environs.
The World Rabies Day is an annual event established by Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) with the goal of global elimination of rabies by 2030.
It is celebrated on 28 September every year. The day is the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine and laid the foundations for rabies prevention.
Annually, rabies is estimated to cause fifty-five thousand (55,000) human deaths worldwide. Fifty six percent (56%) of these global human deaths are in Africa. Half of the global human population lives in canine rabies-endemic areas and is considered at risk of contracting rabies. Although many advances have been made, rabies remains a neglected, under-reported, untreatable and yet preventable disease with the highest case fatality rate (100%) of any zoonotic disease. Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease.
Touching on the theme: “Breaking Rabies Boundaries “, the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer mentioned that the time to do away with barriers that are limiting our efforts to achieve the global goal of zero rabies death by 2030. On factors which are impeding the fight against rabies, he mentioned breaking of the silos, lack of collaboration, insufficient cooperation, lack of innovation and disease awareness.
The Ashanti Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr. Mrs. Mabel Abudu, disclosed that “rabies as we are all aware is one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases that cause the loss of both human and animal lives.” Dr.Abudu called for awareness and renewed commitment to fight and totally eradicate this deadly disease globally by the year 2030.
She revealed that Atwima Nwabiagya North district has had some sporadic outbreaks of rabies both in animals and humans, a development which led to celebration of World Rabies Day in the enclave to create the awareness of this important but neglected disease.
Mabel Abudu appealed to Ghanaians to spread the message that rabies is preventable hence the need to present their dogs to health officers for vaccination.
“I encourage everyone present here to take an active role in spreading the message of rabies prevention and also ensure that our homes and neighborhood is free from rabies by the year 2030.”
She urged, “Be reminded once again that rabies is 100% preventable. We must therefore strengthen the collaborations between the veterinary services, health professionals, the environmental sector, local and traditional authorities, as well as community members in order to eliminate this deadly disease. Through this One Health approach, I am confident that we will surely be able to “Break the Rabies Boundaries” for the safety of our future generation.”
