” …once you fail to vaccinate your animal, you should be arrested.” – Veterinary Services, Ghana.
As World Rabies Day is commemorated, the Veterinary Service is urging local assemblies to take action against dog owners who neglect to vaccinate their pets, emphasizing the serious threat this poses to community safety. With only 170,000 out of 2.5 million dogs in Ghana being vaccinated, the Service stresses the importance of reaching a 70% vaccination rate to effectively combat rabies. Globally, rabies, transmitted by dogs, cats, and monkeys, claims the lives of approximately 55 thousand people each year.
In Ghana, between 2018 and 2024, there were over 600 confirmed rabies outbreaks, with regions like Ashanti, Greater Accra, Upper East, Western, and Central reporting the highest numbers. Specifically, the Ashanti Region documented 34 positive rabies cases and two fatalities during this period. The recent World Rabies Day event in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District, where a tragic death occurred, served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective efforts to prevent further rabies-related deaths.
Dr. Mabel Abudu, the Ashanti Regional director of Veterinary Services, highlights the ongoing risk of more cases due to pet owners’ reluctance to vaccinate their animals.“People should be responsible for pets. Once you go for them, you need to budget for them. If you know you can’t take care of them, don’t go for them. Sadly, our animal welfare system isn’t functioning as it should. But once you fail to vaccinate your animal, you should be arrested,” she said.
Dr. William Adu, from the Animal System Strengthening Project of DEFRA-UK, emphasizes that Ghana must vaccinate 70% of its pet population to align with the global goal of eradicating rabies deaths by 2030.
On World Rabies Day, residents participating in free pet vaccination programs shared insights on rabies prevention, underscoring the role of community education in reducing risks. This annual observance on September 28 also honors the legacy of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist, and the pioneer behind the first rabies vaccine, serving as a reminder of the ongoing battle against this deadly disease.
