Treat All Dog Bites as Rabies Cases-Vet Officer

Juaso (Ash), Oct. 15, GNA (Ghana News Agency) - One person died out of the five who were bitten by rabies-infected dogs in the Asante-Akim South District.

Mr Rowland Attenang Asante, the Akim South District Veterinary Officer, told the Ghana News Agency at Juaso saying the figure was out of the 115 reported cases of dog bites recorded in the District.

He, therefore, called on the public to treat all dog bites as a potential rabies cases and report to the nearest health facility as soon as possible to prevent needless deaths.

They should also try to vaccinate their dogs every year against rabies to help check the outbreak of the disease which he described as deadly.

Mr Asante cautioned that failure to report dog bites promptly for treatment endangered the lives of victims.

It is very important to report dog bites immediately to facilitate investigations to establish whether or not the said dog is infected so that effective treatment can start to save the victim’s life, he stressed.

This is because, Mr Asante explained, it takes quite some time for the rabies- infected person to show signs of the disease and by the time it begins to show, the condition has already reached the fatal stage.

Throwing more light on the disease, he said, infected dogs transmit the disease causing bacteria to humans through their bites and at the active and fatal stage of the disease, the infected person behaves just like the dog.

The Veterinary Officer asked for public co-operation to help stem rabies whiles calling on dog owners to desist from killing their dogs when they bite since that can affect investigations.

He said about 300 dogs were vaccinated against the disease last year but his outfit was still looking for funds to embark on another vaccination campaign this year.

GNA