Rabies kills two people in Jomoro District

Rabies had killed two teenagers at Tikobo Number Two and Bonyere in the Jomoro District after being bitten by dogs.

Mr Kenneth Addai Boadu, Jomoro District Agricultural Director, said this when addressing the Jomoro District Assembly at its sitting at Half Assini.

He said the teenagers died at Effia Nkwanta Government Hospital after referral from Half Assini Government Hospital between September and October this year.

Mr Boadu said in April this year, an anti-rabies campaign was organised in the district but in some communities, instead of pet owners bringing their animals for vaccination, they rather asked the officials to chase them for the vaccination.

This, he said, the officers could not do due to the risk involved thus leaving some pets unvaccinated at the end of the exercise.

He said the unfortunate incident which resulted in the death of the two teenagers had led to a re-vaccination exercise in those communities since Monday, November 14, by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Mr Boadu said in both cases the animals concerned were killed and eaten without the authorities examining them to ascertain whether they were carriers of rabies or not.

He therefore advised the general public not to kill any dog after having bitten someone but chain it till three weeks to ascertain whether it is rabies carrier.

The Assembly advised the agricultural authorities to prosecute pet owners who refused to vaccinate their animals.

Source: GNA