Shortage of anti-rabies vaccines hits Bawku

Mr. Sulley Fuseini, Acting Bawku Municipal Veterinary Officer, has expressed worry that cases of rabies might increase in the area as a result of shortage of anti-rabies vaccines.

He said the vaccines used for the animals against the disease and those used to cure persons bitten by infected animals were all out of stock.

Mr Fuseini in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bawku at the weekend said  vaccination against the disease was an annual exercise, but nothing of this sought had taken place this year due to acute shortage of the vaccines.

He explained that animals such as dog, cats and monkeys that carried the disease were human pets and could easily transmit the dangerous disease to the people.

Mr. Fuseini  called on government and other stakeholders to stock the office with the vaccines and related drugs to prevent the disease from spreading.

He also said that the new castle (birds disease) and anthrax (animal disease)  were predominant in the area and about 56,826 birds and 16,000 cattle were vaccinated against diseases.

Mr Fuseini said that the Bawku Municipal Veterinary Office   had recorded 16 cases of new castle and two cases of anthrax two years ago, and added that the diseases took two human lives in the area.

He called on government and other development partners to help strengthen the Veterinary Services Department in the country to enable it to discharge its duties effectively.

Source: GNA