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Rabid Dogs Bite 20 people in a Week in Neno

The vaccination exercise at Neno bwala la Ndege The vaccination exercise at Neno bwala la Ndege - pic by Steve Kalungwe

Jackals have raged havoc in Neno district where veterinary authorities say they have bitten several dogs in lower and Neno boma resulting in a rabies outbreak.

Neno district veterinary officer, Daniel Makaka, told Zodiak on Tuesday that 20 people are being bitten by rabies dogs very week.

"We have a severe case at Neno district hospital and my office is receiving on average twenty cases of dog bite every week, which is a worrisome development", said Makaka.

For this reason, the district has commenced an emergency rabies vaccination campaign in all hot spots after theĀ  reports of several stray dog bites suspected to have been bitten by jackals and infected with rabies virus.

Mr. Daniel Makaka, also confirmed of the campaign, saying Jackals have emerged in lower and Neno boma where they are biting dogs and efforts are under way to contain them.

Makaka further said his office is targeting two thousand six hundred dogs within the Neno boma with seven thousand anti-rabies vaccine already in stock.

"Our aim is to vaccine all dogs in Neno district but of now we are targeting two thousand six hundred dogs around Neno boma but this exercise will go on full scale soon to reach out to the whole districts", added Makaka.

On stray dogs, he disclosed that plans are underway to procure bullets and discussion with relevant authorities on animal rights is also at an advanced stage.

Neno district still has vast forests where fierce wild animals still walk and call them home.

Two months ago, police in the district were on a campaign to shot all stray dogs after a child was bitten by a stray dog in the head and body and was admitted to Neno district hospital for days.

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