Plans are under way to procure 20,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines, following a spike in dog bite incidents in Siaya county, resulting into rabies.
According to the County Director of Livestock Production and Veterinary services, Dr. Otieno Owino, his department targets to conduct ring vaccination in areas with high incidents.
“The current dog population in Siaya county is about 200,000 which we cannot cover with the 20,000 doses hence we will do ring vaccination, where people are at high risk,” said Dr. Owino, who was speaking to the media at Majengo in Usigu sub county.
Dr. Owino called on the public not to ignore any dog or cat bites and scratches, adding that victims of such need to be taken to hospital.
He further called on dog and cat owners to exercise responsibility over their pets by ensuring that they are vaccinated on time to protect both their families and the public at large.
Bondo sub county Veterinary Officer, Dr. Clay Kama said two deaths occasioned by rabies were recently reported in the area.
In the first incident, said Dr. Kama, the victim who was a child, suffered a small scratch behind the ear that went unreported by the parents.
“The parents didn’t know and the child just never reported,” Dr. Kama said, adding that by the time the family sought medical help at a clinic, the disease had progressed too far to be treated.
He said that his department was liaising with other government entities to educate the public on the danger of rabies and the need to rush victims of dog and cat bites to the nearest medical facilities.
A farmer, Joseph Buoga Ogumbo said the rising cases of dog bites was causing concern in the villages and gave an example of a recent incident where one of his cousins lost four cows which were bitten by a rabid dog.
He lamented the high cost of treating dog and cat bites and urged the government to help bring down the cost.
By Philip Onyango
