Rabies to increase in Bawku as a result of vaccine shortage

The veterinary office in Bawku have confirmed that rabies is on the increase in the Bawku Municipality and its environs as a result of an acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine in the area.

Mr. Sulley Fuseini, the Acting Municipal Veterinary Officer told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Bawku that vaccination was an annual exercise but this year nothing had been done as a result of the acute shortage of the vaccine.

He said the disease, found in dogs, cats and monkeys, was a threat to humans and called on stakeholders to find an immediate measure to prevent the disease from occurring.

Mr. Fuseini said new castle and anthrax were major diseases prevalent in the area, adding that last year 56, 826 birds and 16,000 cattle were vaccinated saying, for the past two years 16 cases of new castle were recorded and two cases of anthrax were recorded that took two human lives in the area.

He said the office had not been able to undertake vaccination exercise because it was facing challenges such as funding and transportation.

He appealed to the government and developmental partners to help strengthen the veterinary service so that it could undertake its constitutional mandate.**