Nakuru: The devolved unit’s administration has initiated a mass vaccination campaign, with 492 dogs receiving the anti-rabies jab on the first day of the exercise in Molo and Naivasha Sub-Counties.
According to Kenya News Agency, data from the Nakuru County Government Veterinary Department indicates that the broader domestic dog population in the county exceeds 50,000 dogs.
The Chief Officer in charge of Livestock, Fisheries, and Veterinary Services, Dr. Michael Kiplangat Cheruiyot, explained that the county government is also undertaking public education on managing dogs to reduce bite incidents. ‘We are raising awareness so that members of the public take ownership of the dogs. We are also working to have male dogs castrated and the reproductive system surgically removed from the female dogs to control their population,’ stated Dr. Cheruiyot.
Speaking at the County headquarters in Nakuru Town, Dr. Cheruiyot urged the public to report any cases of rabies and stray dog bites immediately. ‘In Biashara Ward, within Naivasha Sub-County, veterinary officers successfully vaccinated 279 dogs against rabies at Kwa Ben Centre, helping protect both pets and residents from the disease, while in Molo Ward, within Molo Sub-County, another 213 dogs received anti-rabies vaccinations,’ he elaborated.
He reassured that the County Government is committed to safeguarding public health by preventing rabies through routine vaccination, training on responsible pet ownership, and enhanced community awareness. Dr. Cheruiyot highlighted that dogs can transmit various other diseases, including salmonella and Toxocara canis, a parasite that can cause blindness in humans.
The Chief Officer emphasized the importance of routine vaccinations for dogs to prevent diseases such as rabies, worms, bordetella, Lyme disease, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and distemper. Rabies, caused by a virus transmitted through bites and scratches from rabid animals, is 100 percent fatal without timely intervention.
Kenya records an estimated 2,000 rabies deaths annually due to bites from rabid dogs. Africa accounts for 36 percent of the 59,000 rabies deaths in humans each year. According to the World Health Organization and the World Animal Protection, Kenya recorded up to 75,000 dog bites annually by 2020, with 500 to 1,000 resulting in death.
Globally, the World Organization for Animal Health estimates about 59,000 lives are lost to rabies each year, with 40 percent of victims being children in underdeveloped countries. Researchers estimate that over 1 million people could die from rabies globally between 2020 and 2035 if vaccination rates are not increased.
Mass dog vaccinations covering 70 percent of the dog population are a cost-effective strategy to break dog-to-dog rabies transmission, in addition to human inoculation. Dr. Cheruiyot advised dog bite victims to wash the wound immediately and seek medical attention for the full dose of post-exposure vaccines.
The County Government is also enhancing rabies education and improving health workers’ capacity for rabies exposure assessment, diagnosis, and vaccine administration. Surveillance and reporting compliance have been tightened to provide accurate data.
Most rabies deaths occur in children, as they are more likely to interact with dogs and less likely to report bites. In 2014, Kenya adopted a strategic plan to eliminate human rabies, aligning with the global target of zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.
Dr. Cheruiyot also advised Nakuru residents to ensure all meat for consumption is slaughtered in approved facilities and complies with the Ministry of Health’s regulations. Dog vaccinations in Nakuru are available through private veterinary clinics, mobile vet services, and regional agricultural offices, and the County Government conducts recurring mass vaccination campaigns against rabies.
