The Nakuru County Government has intensified its countywide campaign against rabies, rolling out vaccination exercises across all 11 sub-counties.

The drive aims to immunise dogs against the deadly disease and significantly reduce the risk of transmission to humans.

The exercise began in Kiptagich Ward, Kuresoi South Sub-county, where 70 dogs were vaccinated, marking the start of the county’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disease prevention, promote responsible animal ownership and safeguard public health.

The vaccination campaign is being conducted by Sub-county Veterinary Officers, who are also sensitising residents on the importance of vaccinating their pets and seeking prompt medical attention in the event of an animal bite.

Nakuru County Chief Officer for Livestock and Veterinary Services, Dr Michael Kiplangat Cheruiyot, observed that the exercise was part of the County’s commitment to preventing rabies transmission and protecting both people and animals.

He noted that rabies remains a serious public health concern because it is a deadly disease that can be transmitted from infected animals to humans.

Dr. Cheruiyot said the disease is preventable through timely vaccination of dogs and other measures, aimed at controlling its spread.

The chief officer explained that the vaccination campaign is intended to reach communities across all 11 sub-counties, ensuring that more dogs are protected and the risk of transmission to people is reduced.

He urged the residents to cooperate with veterinary officers and bring their dogs for vaccination whenever the exercise is conducted in their areas.

Dr. Cheruiyot emphasised that protecting animal health is an important part of protecting human health.

Sub-county veterinary officers conducting the exercise said the vaccination initiative was crucial in reducing the risk of rabies and ensuring that communities understood their role in preventing the disease.

They noted that vaccinating dogs is one of the most effective ways of preventing rabies and reducing the risk of infection among people.

The veterinarians urged residents to ensure their dogs are vaccinated and to cooperate with veterinary officers during the exercise.

The officers advised the residents to avoid handling unfamiliar or suspected infected animals and seek medical attention immediately if they are bitten or scratched.

The veterinary officer stressed that early action is important in preventing the disease from developing and spreading.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is usually transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, particularly through bites and scratches.

Once clinical symptoms develop, the disease is almost invariably fatal, making prevention and timely intervention essential.

Dogs are the main source of human rabies infections in many parts of the world.

Vaccinating dogs helps break the chain of transmission by reducing the number of animals that can spread the virus to other animals or people.

The vaccination exercise also provides an opportunity for veterinary officers to engage with residents on responsible pet ownership, animal health and the importance of seeking professional advice when animals show unusual behaviour or become aggressive.

In addition to vaccination, residents are encouraged to avoid contact with stray or unfamiliar animals, ensure pets are properly cared for and report suspected rabies cases to veterinary authorities.

Anyone bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal should promptly wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water and seek urgent medical assessment for post-exposure treatment.

The county government’s vaccination campaign is not the first of its kind, as Nakuru has previously undertaken similar anti-rabies interventions as part of efforts to control the disease and protect residents.

The continued vaccination campaigns underscore the county’s commitment to strengthening veterinary services and reducing the risk of animal-borne diseases while promoting a safer and healthier environment for residents.

Residents of Kuresoi South welcomed the initiative, noting that the vaccination exercise would help protect their animals and reduce the risk of rabies in their communities.

They called for the campaigns to be sustained and extended to more villages to ensure that more dogs are vaccinated across the county.

By Caroline Nyakio and Jane Ngugi