Accra, July 8, GNA - The management of Marivet Veterinary Centre, a private veterinary clinic in Accra will undertake free anti-rabies vaccination of pets in Accra.

The exercise scheduled for Saturday, July 9, at Roman Ridge Shopping Arcade, will vaccinate dogs, cats and monkeys in efforts to kick rabies which is on the increase.

Rabies is an acute fatal disease caused by a virus transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. It is characterised by disturbed consciousness, increased nerve irritability and subsequent symptoms of paralysis.

The disease primarily affects not only dogs, cats and other carnivores, but also all warm blooded animals, including humans. Currently in Ghana, there is an upsurge of rabies among dogs and humans after the free anti-rabies immunisation campaign funded by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and implemented by the Veterinary Services Department ended in 1998. Dr Kwasi Bowi Darkwa, Managing Director of Marivet Veterinary Centre, who told the Ghana News Agency in Accra, described the situation as alarming because 93the death of one person from the bite of a rabid dog is unacceptable." He said since the disease could be easily prevented by annual vaccination of dogs and cats as pertained in other countries, Ghanaians should take advantage of the free exercise and vaccinate their pets and repeat it as required. "It is against this backdrop that management of Marivet is undertaking the free vaccination exercise to control rabies in Ghana and eventually kick it out completely from the country," Dr Darkwa added. Available statistics indicates that from 2003-2008, Greater Accra Region recorded 2,620 dog bites out of which 232 were positive of rabies infection.

From January to August 2009, out of 428 dog bites, 53 were positive, and on the average, the Veterinary Central Laboratory in Accra diagnoses 10 positive cases of rabies in dogs monthly. Globally, about 60,000 people especially, children die of rabies annually, hence the need to address the problem, which seems to be neglected. 7 July 11