29th September, 2022
By Uchenna Ugwu
A total of eight cases of rabies were recorded in Ebonyi between January and September, according to the released statistics.
Dr Daniel Umezurike, the Commissioner for Health, gave the figure during Ebonyi Dog-Mediated Human Rabies Control Programme, an event to mark this year’s World Rabies Day.
According to Umezurike, five human contacts were line listed, vaccinated and currently under surveillance.
The commissioner described rabies as a viral infection spread via saliva, through a bite of a rabies-infested animal in direct contact with human fresh skin wounds.
He explained that a furious rabies case would be hyperactive and might display erratic behaviour with symptoms of insomnia, excess salivation problem in swallowing as well as other symptoms which took long to set in.
He added that collaboration was a key strategy for prevention, as dog as well as human prevention vaccines and public awareness, would prevent the disease.
“Prevention of rabies can be done by eliminating rabies in dogs through vaccination which is the most cost-effective strategy for prevention in people.
“Dog vaccination reduces deaths attributed to dog-mediated rabies,” Umezurike said.
Meanwhile, he urged residents in the state to remain calm, go about their businesses, avoid self-medication and reports suspected cases to health authorities.