Officers of the Veterinary Department of the Food and Agriculture Ministry, have embarked on a six-week massive exercise to vaccinate pets in the Asante-Akim South District against rabies.

 

It is part of measures to prevent any outbreak of the viral disease that spreads through the bite of a rabid animal.

 

Mr. Bobie Amofa, the District Veterinary Officer, said dogs, cats and monkeys in the various communities would be given shots of the rabies vaccine during the period.

 

He described the move as a right step since the cost of treating the disease was far more expensive.

 

The disease, he pointed out, could be deadly if not detected and treated early and that was why they needed to be proactive.

 

Mr. Amofa encouraged pet owners to make sure that their animals were vaccinated and said that was in their own interest.

 

He indicated that the owners were equally at risk like anybody if bitten by their rabid pets.

 

He asked that people bitten by a dog, cat or monkey immediately reported to a health facility for treatment.

 

Such pets must, however, not be killed but handed over to the veterinary department to ascertain whether they were infected or not, he added.

 

GNA