Nairobi Rolls Out Massive Vaccination Of Dogs And Donkeys

Nairobi City County Directorate of Veterinary Services, this week commenced a Nine (9) day vaccination campaign against rabies in Kasarani, Embakasi East, Embakasi Central, and Kibera Sub Counties.

The campaign involves the mass vaccination of dogs, cats, and donkeys against rabies as well as the neutering of dogs and cats to control their breeding habits.

According to Dr. Daniel Karugu, Acting Director Veterinary Services, this exercise was necessitated by an incident that occurred on 20th January 2022 in Kasarani where a dog suspected of having rabies bit a resident.

Said Dr. Karugu, “The target for the campaign is to ensure 4,000 dogs, 500 cats, and 500 donkeys are vaccinated against the deadly rabies virus.  Several animal welfare organizations such as Trap Neuter and Release Trust Nairobi (TNR Nairobi), Kenya Network for Dissemination of Agricultural Technologies (KENDAT), Spay Sisters, of United Kingdom, Kenya Society for Protection of Animals (KSPCA), Kenya Veterinary Association Women Branch (KWVA), Kenya Small and Companion Animal Veterinary Association (KESCAVA), and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Nairobi have lent their support to Nairobi City County to ensure a successful and seamless campaign and vaccination exercise. “

Said Nairobi Governor, Ann Kananu, “Rabies is managed through vaccination which cuts the transmission cycle as well as neutering dogs and cats which limits their populations. Kamulu, Ruai, and Utawala are amongst the estates that are known to have a high donkey population which the community relies on for domestic services like fetching water and transporting construction materials. Whereas rabies vaccination of dogs is compulsory in Nairobi City County, neutering is voluntary.

I would like the residents of the respective areas singled out for the campaign to fully cooperate so that we can eradicate and minimize the effects of rabies in our community.

Data from the World Health Organization estimates that one person dies from human rabies every nine minutes. It further states that 40 percent of rabies victims are children under the age of 15 years.”

Poor rural communities are most affected by rabies because their dogs are left to roam freely in search of food. These dogs rarely receive veterinary care as such they are not likely to be vaccinated on time.

County Executive in charge of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry, Mrs. Lucia Mulwa, urged Nairobi residents who are yet to vaccinate their animals, to do so during the duration of the vaccination campaign in order to weed out the disease.

“On average Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis costs between Sh5,000 and Sh7,500. The Rabies virus attacks the brain, and once symptoms appear, it is 100% fatal. Symptoms include fever, headache, excess salivation, muscle spasms, paralysis, and mental confusion followed by coming and death within 14 days. Dog owners should be responsible for the care of their animals.

They need to ensure that their dogs are well fed and are vaccinated promptly. It is cheaper to prevent Rabies by vaccinating dogs than treating human Rabies. Human rabies can be prevented by vaccinating at least 70 percent of the dog population.”