FCTA launches mass rabies vaccination campaign for 20,000 pets

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched a two-week mass vaccination campaign to vaccinate between 15,000 and 20,000 dogs and cats across the six area councils of the FCT. Coordinated by the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, the initiative aims to contain the spread of rabies following reported cases in the Gwagwalada and Kuje area councils.

More than 100 veterinary officers have been deployed to cover all 62 wards in the territory. Officials stated that the vaccination exercise is being conducted free of charge at designated centres. Sulieman Ango, the Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, noted that since the intervention began, no new cases have been detected outside the initially affected areas.

Dr. Karnak Dandam, Director of Veterinary Services, emphasized that while rabies is a deadly disease that is invariably fatal once clinical symptoms appear in humans, it is 100 percent preventable through the vaccination of primary vectors like dogs.