Five residents of Malam Matari community on the outskirts of Damaturu, Yobe State, have been hospitalised after they were bitten by a dog confirmed to be infected with rabies.
The incident also affected livestock in the community, prompting the Yobe State Pilot Livestock Development Programme to activate its Rapid Response Team to contain the outbreak and prevent the virus from spreading further.
The Programme Manager, Dr. Bulama Maina Yaro, who led the emergency response, disclosed that the victims had begun receiving treatment and were responding well after commencing the recommended five dose post exposure prophylaxis vaccination.
He said the timely intervention of veterinary and health officials helped prevent the situation from worsening.
According to Yaro, the infected dog attacked two goats, which were later safely disposed of and buried in line with established veterinary public health procedures to eliminate the risk of further transmission.
He assured residents that the outbreak had been brought under control, noting that the affected persons were receiving appropriate medical care while all infected animals had been properly buried.
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As part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease, veterinary officials also embarked on a public sensitisation campaign in the community to educate residents on rabies prevention, signs of infection in animals, the need to seek immediate medical attention after dog bites and other safety measures.
The awareness exercise was coordinated by Veterinary Officer, Dr. Yau Buba Wakil, as authorities urged residents to promptly report suspected cases of rabies and avoid contact with animals showing unusual behaviour.
