Health
Veterinary Surgeon Warns Against Ignoring Dog Bites
By Safia Abdulrahman
A Veterinary Surgeon with the National Park Service (NPS), Dr Abdulrahman Muhammad, has cautioned Nigerians against ignoring dog bites, urging prompt medical treatment and regular vaccination of dogs to prevent rabies-related deaths.
Muhammad gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, describing rabies as a deadly but preventable viral disease transmitted through infected animals.
NAN reports that rabies is a fatal viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is commonly transmitted through the saliva of infected mammals, particularly dogs, bats and cats.
He said delayed medical intervention remained a major cause of avoidable fatalities, noting that many dog bite victims resorted to traditional remedies instead of seeking prompt treatment at health facilities.
According to him, such practices increase the risk of developing rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, in spite of being preventable through timely medical intervention.
“Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is completely preventable if victims immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water and seek post-exposure vaccination,” he said.
Muhammad advised members of the public never to disregard dog bites, regardless of how minor they might appear, emphasising that early medical intervention could significantly improve survival chances.
He identified dogs as the principal source of rabies transmission to humans in Nigeria, although cats, bats and other infected mammals could also spread the virus.
The veterinary surgeon urged dog owners to vaccinate their pets annually and ensure they were properly restrained to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease.
According to him, mass dog vaccination remains the most effective strategy for eliminating human rabies and reducing the burden of the disease across affected communities nationwide.
“Vaccinating dogs remains the most effective way to prevent human rabies. Responsible pet ownership is essential to eliminating the disease,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies continues to claim an estimated 10,000 human lives annually in Nigeria, underscoring the need for stronger prevention efforts.
WHO reported that Cross River State’s Department of Veterinary Services partnered with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) to strengthen surveillance and address longstanding challenges in rabies detection.
The organisation added that stakeholders from human health, animal health, environment and wildlife sectors developed a National Rabies Rapid Response Toolkit to support coordinated prevention and response efforts.
The toolkit provides a One Health framework for rabies prevention and response, supporting national efforts aimed at eliminating dog-mediated human rabies and achieving the 2030 global target.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
