ANTI-RABIES CAMPAIGN ENDS IN OBUASI (NSEMPA, PAGE 3)

By Collins Agyekum Gyasi, Obuasi

THE Obuasi Office of the Veterinary Services has completed the first phase of a three-year anti–rabies free eradication campaign. The other phase would begin in April and end in May 2009.
Dr A.H. Kwansah Filson, the municipal veterinary officer, said it took three weeks to visit all the 30 electoral areas and immunized 3,156 pets against rabies, the highest in the country.
The exercise was aimed at drastically reducing the number of rabid animals in the municipality where the Veterinary Services had recorded an average number of four cases a day.
He said from January to June this year, 20 confirmed rabid cases in animals had been detect, hence the exercise.
Dr Filson added that, “Rabies is caused by a virus, which affects mainly the central nervous system.” The saliva of a rabid animal, not only dogs but also cats and bats, causes it.
“Children are at greater risk because of their short stature, fearlessness of animals and also their inability to protect themselves.”
He explained that the time between a bite from a rabid animal may be as short as nine days or as long as seven days and before the specific sign of rabies sets in, the patient, may have pain, hoarse voice, itchiness, and numbness of the place of bite.
The municipal Veterinary Officer, said, “human beings with rabies are also infectious” and could transmit rabies a week before the onset of the symptoms and advised the public to report bites immediately to a hospital, or veterinary officer for management such as Post Exposure Prophylaxis (P.E.P)
Again, he also advised that pets or dogs, which were immunised could be given another dose after a year adding that dogs, cats and rodents would remain a faithful companion to us and it behoved us to keep them safe.
He commended the Anglogold Ashanti (A.G.A), for the quick response to donate GH¢1,632.00 and also the Municipal Assembly’s contribution.
Dr Kwansah Filson, nonetheless appealed to the all Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies, to always set aside some funds from their budget to help the vet services to undertake such exercises.