72 die from rabies in Mozambique

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72 die from rabies in Mozambique

9:25 CAT | 05 Mar 2018

File photo: SAPO Mz

Mozambique’s National Director of Veterinary, Américo Conceição has said rabies killed 72 people in the country by the end of last year.State radio on Sunday quoted Conceição as saying this figure is out of 11,000 reported cases and most of them children.

He blamed the country’s lack of money to procure vaccines for the fatalities.

The official said the most affected provinces are Cabo Delgado and Nampula in the north, Zambezia center, and Inhambane in the south.

“Not all dogs are vaccinated because some owners think the dog loses hunting power, and besides that the country has no money to acquire vaccines”, Conceicao said.

According to the official, Africa is home to nearly half of the 55,000 people around the world who die each year from rabies, caused mainly by bites from dogs contaminated with the virus.

Vaccination of humans, as well as dogs and domestic pets, is the only way to prevent the spread of the disease.

Source: APA