Sekondi, Nov. 27 GNA - Dr Samuel Herbert Mark Opoku, a Western Regional Veterinary Officer, has cautioned dog owners not to kill their dogs when they show signs of rabies.

"They should be brought to the Veterinary Service and not to sell or be consumed by human beings," he said.

Dr Opoku was briefing members of Course "31" of the Ghana Armed Forces Command College on zoonotic disease situation in the Western Region when they called on Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the Regional Minister in Sekondi. He said that the Service recorded 97 dog bite cases from January to October this year in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, "Those are the ones that are reported to our office and individuals, who are bitten by dogs, are encouraged to report to the Veterinary Service with the dog after seeking treatment at the hospital," he explained. According to him, the Service has appealed for resources from government and other donor agencies to enable it to organise mass vaccination against rabies and other diseases in the country. "Some people have negative cultural beliefs on the vaccination of pets and do not send them to the Veterinary Service for them to be vaccinated," he said.

He added that rabies and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are currently prevalent in the metropolis. Dr Opoku said the Service was regulating the importation of animals into the country adding "we have also set up surveillance point at the boarders and entry points in the region and the country as a whole". He, therefore, encouraged individuals to send their pets to the Veterinary Service for examination when they suspect them of having any form of disease.