Dr. Moses Barima Djimatey, Eastern Regional Deputy Director of Public Health, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that rabies was a viral infection affecting the nervous system, primarily transmitted through bites from infected dogs. 

He stressed that while rabies has no cure, it is preventable through prompt vaccination after exposure. He described rabies as a persistent public health threat requiring collective action to raise awareness and promote preventive measures. 

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, Dr. Djimatey noted that nearly 60,000 people die from rabies annually, with over 90 percent of cases occurring in Africa and Asia. Alarmingly, children under 15 years account for about 40 percent of these deaths. He highlighted the WHO-led “ZERO BY 30” global strategy, which seeks to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Key components of the strategy include annual dog vaccinations, education on safe interactions with dogs, and prompt medical attention following dog bites.

The campaign also emphasizes the importance of reporting all dog bites to health facilities for assessment and timely administration of rabies vaccines. Common symptoms of rabies include tingling or numbness at the bite site, aggression, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and paralysis.