Rabies kills between 1,000 and 2,000 Nigerians each year, while tens of thousands suffer dog-bite exposures that disproportionately affect children under 15, according to Dr. Bala Muhammed. The Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria cited these figures from global statistics showing 59,000 annual deaths worldwide, with Africa contributing roughly 21,000 fatalities. Muhammed addressed World Rabies Day commemorations on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, emphasizing the theme Act Now: You, Me, Community.
Dogs transmit 99 percent of human rabies cases, making vaccination campaigns essential for community protection. Health officials must vaccinate approximately 70 percent of dog populations to interrupt disease transmission effectively. The veterinarian urged government agencies to fund mass vaccination programs, coordinate surveillance efforts, and integrate human and animal health services across states and local governments to eliminate this preventable disease.
Dogs transmit 99 percent of human rabies cases, making vaccination campaigns essential for community protection. Health officials must vaccinate approximately 70 percent of dog populations to interrupt disease transmission effectively. The veterinarian urged government agencies to fund mass vaccination programs, coordinate surveillance efforts, and integrate human and animal health services across states and local governments to eliminate this preventable disease.
