The Ashanti Regional Veterinary Services Department (VSD) has expressed concern about the poor public response to the anti-rabies campaign with many pet owners simply refusing to heed calls get their animals vaccinated.

As of the end of last September, just 13,050 dogs, representing less than 10 per cent of the total of over 400,000 pets in the region had been vaccinated.

Dr. Kofi Quansah-Filson, the Regional Director, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, said the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, necessarily would have to step in.

The assemblies should actively support the campaign in their areas given the threat to the safety of the people by the viral disease – transmitted through the bite of rabid animals.

He announced that so far 12 people had died of rabies in eight districts in the region, this year, seven of them were aged below 11 years.

He said the last person to die was a nursing mother at Maikala, a farming community in Asante-Akim North District.

Dr. Quansah-Filson mentioned the affected districts as Offinso, Bosomtwe, Ejisu-Juaben, Adansi-North, Amansie Central, Asokore-Mampong, Asante-Akim North and Central.

He said the heads of 18 out of 26 dead dogs presented for laboratory tests also them proved positive for virus.

The VSD had been doing a lot of awareness creation but its effort needed to be supported.

Dr. Quansah-Filson said they had adequate stock of vaccines and what was left was for pet owners, especially those in the rural areas to appreciate the importance of the vaccination exercise.