Veterinary Services Directorate Ghana has launched the 2024 World Rabies Day Celebration today, September 18, under the theme “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”. Addressing the media, the Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Allegye Cudjoe emphasized that rabies is a deadly viral disease affecting mammals, transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals, leading to fatal brain inflammation and nervous system disorders.
He noted that, according to the World Health Organization, rabies claims approximately 70,000 lives annually, with 144 people succumbing to the disease daily – that’s one death every 10 minutes. Alarmingly, 99% of these deaths occur in Africa and Asia, particularly in developing countries like Ghana. Children under 15 are the most vulnerable, accounting for 40% of those bitten by rabid animals, with dogs responsible for over 95% of human cases worldwide.
Dr. Cudjoe noted that in Ghana, dog bites and rabies cases have been rising, especially in Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions. Between 2009 and 2011, 26 human deaths from rabies were recorded, increasing to 57 in 2016. From 2020 to 2023, there were 793 suspected human rabies cases, resulting in 77 deaths. In 2023, 331 suspected cases were recorded, with Greater Accra (112 cases) and Western Region (102 cases) accounting for 64.65% of cases with no records from Bono, Oti and Western North.
“As of today, September 18, 2024, Ghana has reported 31 confirmed animal rabies cases across nine regions, resulting in 26 human fatalities”, he said. He highlighted that, to combat rabies, Ghana launched its National Action Plan in 2019 to eradicate rabies by 2030.
Dr. Cudjoe noted that, preventing rabies requires proactive measures, urging the public to vaccinate their pets annually and report any animal bites immediately to veterinary facilities.