LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-More than 50 people die of rabies in Zambia every year, with about 15,000 dog bites recorded in the same period.
According to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries senior inspectorate and regulation officer for veterinary public health, Kenneth Chawinga, 40 percent of rabies-related deaths occur in children under the age of 15.
Rabies is a preventable disease that can be controlled through the vaccination of dogs, yet it continues to claim lives due to low immunisation coverage.
“Sadly, rabies kills more than 50 people in Zambia every year, and over 15,000 people are bitten by dogs with rabies annually,” Kabwe Mayor Patrick Chishala said on Saturday.
He made the remarks during the commemoration of World Rabies Day, which was held under the theme ‘Act now, you, me, community’.
Mr. Chishala stressed the importance of vaccinating dogs as a safeguard against the deadly disease, urging communities to take preventive measures seriously.
In an interview, Dr. Chawinga revealed that 80 percent of dog bites occur in rural and remote areas, where access to health facilities and vaccines is often limited.
“It’s sad to note that of all the rabies deaths, 40 percent are attributed to children under the age of 15, so it’s quite a calamity and the most sustainable and effective way to stop rabies or end rabies is by mass vaccinations,” Dr. Chawinga said.
He explained that effective rabies control requires regular mass vaccination campaigns that target at least 70 percent of the dog population.
Public health advocates say the statistics are a wake-up call for both government and communities to prioritise dog immunisation as a means of protecting vulnerable populations, particularly children.