Livestock Management Services (LMS) has emphasised that vaccinating 70 per cent of Nigeria’s dog population is crucial to preventing rabies transmission, warning that gaps in vaccination coverage continue to contribute to outbreaks.
Dr Bala Muhammed, Director and Chief Executive Officer of LMS, made this known in Abuja during a recent interview, as part of activities marking World Rabies Day. The 2025 theme is “Act Now: You, Me, Community.”
He explained that over 99 per cent of human rabies cases are linked to hunting and free-roaming community dogs that contract the virus from wildlife before spreading it to domestic animals and humans. According to him, vaccinating these dogs is crucial to reducing outbreaks.
Muhammed urged the government, NGOs, donors, and community leaders to mobilise resources for free mass vaccination, mobile clinics, training of local vaccinators, and mapping of dog populations.
He also emphasised education in schools and communities, alongside enforcement of dog registration and access to Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
Globally, rabies causes an estimated 59,000 human deaths each year, with Africa accounting for 21,000. In Nigeria, between 1,000 and 2,000 deaths occur annually, with children under 15 most affected.
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