The Benue State Government has confirmed an outbreak of rabies in Kwande and Gboko Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The Director-General of the Benue Bureau of Livestock Development and Animal Diseases Control, Aondoakaa Asambe, announced this on Monday in Makurdi.
He said the bureau received reports of suspected rabies cases after multiple people were bitten by dogs in Adikpo (Kwande LGA) and Gboko LGA. In total, seven people were bitten by the two dogs, and the government is now tracing those who had contact with them.
Investigations revealed that the infected dog in Adikpo was sold to vendors to be processed for food. Fortunately, the dog’s head was retrieved and sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom, Plateau State. Tests confirmed it was infected with the rabies virus.
Rabies is a deadly disease mainly spread through dog bites. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 55,000 people die from rabies every year. This outbreak highlights the urgent need to work towards WHO’s 2030 goal of eliminating rabies caused by dog bites.
The test results also confirmed that the dog bite in Gboko was a rabies case.
In response, the Bureau, along with the One Health Development Initiative (OHDI) and other partners, has started taking action. These measures aim to manage the current outbreak and prevent future cases, as dogs are important in rural communities for companionship, security, and hunting.
Rabies is a dangerous disease that affects both humans and animals, and urgent action is needed to control it.
