World Rabies Day: Experts Urge Dog Vaccination as Nigeria Records Preventable Deaths

Veterinary experts have called for stronger coordination between animal and human health services to prevent rabies deaths in Nigeria. They say mass vaccination of dogs, prompt reporting of bites and better surveillance are central to stopping transmission. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it can be prevented after exposure. Anyone bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water, then seek urgent medical care for post-exposure treatment. Authorities confirmed eight rabies cases and two deaths in the FCT in 2026, while Bassa LGA in Plateau recorded 25 cases and 12 deaths in 2025. The experts urged dog owners, schools, community leaders, health workers and the media to help improve vaccination, bite reporting and public awareness.

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