The Director of Blueblood Veterinary Services, Dr Bala Muhammed, has called for stronger integration of veterinary and human health surveillance systems to prevent rabies and related deaths in Nigeria.
Muhammed made the call in Abuja on Monday to mark World Rabies Day, observed annually on Sept. 28. The 2026 theme is “Stronger Together”.
He said every dog bite should be reported, investigated and treated as an opportunity to prevent further transmission, while sustained mass vaccination of dogs should remain central to rabies control.
Muhammed urged Nigerians bitten or scratched by potentially rabid animals to immediately wash the wound with soap and running water and seek urgent medical attention.
He said rabies was almost 100 per cent fatal once symptoms appeared, but deaths were preventable through timely post-exposure treatment and vaccination.
Muhammed also called for stronger collaboration among veterinarians, medical professionals, government agencies, dog owners, community leaders, schools and the media under the One Health approach.
He cited eight confirmed rabies cases and two deaths in Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory in 2026, as well as 25 cases and 12 deaths reported in Plateau State’s Bassa Local Government Area in 2025.
He said the World Health Organisation estimates that rabies causes about 59,000 deaths globally each year, with dogs responsible for about 99 per cent of human rabies infections.
Muhammed urged the media to focus not only on reporting rabies deaths but also on vaccination, availability of post-exposure treatment, animal testing and measures to prevent further cases.
