The Bauchi state government has disclosed that it has inoculated 5,000 dogs against rabies across the 20 local government areas.
The director of Veterinary Services at Bauchi’s agriculture ministry, Ibrahim Bello disclosed this on Monday.
Mr Bello said the vaccination was a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign designed to curb the tide of the disease in Bauchi.
The official added that the ministry would also administer the anti-rabies vaccine to another 5,000 dogs and pets in the next round of immunisation exercise billed to commence on October 19.
He urged dog keepers and pet owners to avail themselves of the opportunity and present their pets for vaccination to protect them against zoonosis.
“The vaccine helps prepare pets’ immune system to fight disease-causing organisms. It contains antigens that resemble disease-causing pathogens and mildly stimulate the immune system,” added Mr Bello.
Mr Bello said properly kept dogs present great benefits of companionship, security, health, hunting and research purposes, among others and warned dog owners to stop allowing them to roam without vaccination.
“It’s dangerous for an unvaccinated dog to bite a person,” the official stressed.
