A German Shepherd dog
To effectively curb the transmission of rabies in Nigeria, at least 70% of the country’s dog population must be vaccinated, the Director and Chief Executive Officer of Livestock Management Services (LMS), Dr. Bala Muhammed, has said.
Speaking in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to mark World Rabies Day, Dr. Muhammed emphasized that gaps in vaccination coverage continue to fuel outbreaks across the country.
“Interrupting rabies transmission requires 70 per cent vaccination of the dog population across the country because persistent gaps in coverage sustain outbreaks of the disease,” he said.
World Rabies Day, marked globally every September 28, aims to raise awareness about rabies prevention, promote timely treatment, and highlight the importance of vaccination.
This year’s theme is ” _Act Now: You, Me, Community”_ — a call for collective action against the deadly but preventable disease.
Dr. Muhammed noted that more than 99% of human rabies cases stem from hunting and free-roaming community dogs that come into contact with infected wildlife and spread the virus to people and domestic animals.
“Because more than 99 per cent of human rabies infections are from hunting and free-roaming community dogs, targeted vaccination of hunting and community dogs is therefore essential,” he stressed.
He advocated for the mobilisation of resources by government agencies, NGOs, community leaders, and international donors to support mass dog vaccination campaigns, mobile veterinary clinics, and training for local vaccinators.
He also called for stronger community education, enforcement of dog registration, and improved access to Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to protect children and vulnerable populations.
“In Nigeria, estimates range from 1,000 to 2,000 human deaths each year, with tens of thousands more dog-bite exposures recorded; children under 15 are disproportionately affected,” Muhammed revealed.
He added that rabies remains a global threat, causing an estimated 59,000 deaths annually, with Africa accounting for roughly 21,000 of those fatalities. Nearly all human cases are dog-mediated.
Highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated national response, the LMS chief called on pet owners to embrace responsible practices such as registration, vaccination, and confinement of animals.
“This commemoration calls on dog owners to vaccinate and contain animals; on health and veterinary services to coordinate Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM) and PEP access,” he said.
He urged policymakers to prioritize funding for mass vaccination, community education, surveillance, and bite-case reporting to ensure every neighborhood understands the risks associated with unvaccinated dogs.
“Timely wound washing and rapid referral for PEP can save lives. While PEP may be costly or out of reach for many, dog vaccination is a proven and cost-effective way to prevent human suffering,” he added.
