The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) has started a rabies vaccination campaign, following the detection of a positive rabies diagnosis in Ondangwa.

As per the Ministry of Agriculture's rabies control strategy, one case detected qualifies as an outbreak.

The vaccination campaign was necessitated by a rabies case which was detected at Ondangwa Extension on the 10th of this month.

The state veterinarian for the Oshana region, Dr Herman Nelson, says the vaccination of pets is vital as it strives to stop the spread of rabies and keep the community safe.

"The disease was detected as a report that we received from the residents of Extension 4 that there was a dog that was bumped. We sent in a team to go and do an inspection and rescue the dog. It was quarantined because it was showing signs that are consistent with rabies. The day after the dog died, we took the samples and sent them to the lab, and they were detected as positive. As per our protocol – rabies control strategy – we are then required to do a response vaccination programme that is being carried out today on 12 August at two venues: at the Ondangwa Tennis Club court in the morning and in the afternoon, we will shift to Shinime Primary School."

Dr Nelson says residents of Ondangwa extensions two, three, four and six and surroundings are thus strongly urged to present all dogs and cats for them to be vaccinated.

Rabies is a deadly disease that affects both animals and humans, and once symptoms develop, the disease is almost always fatal.

"The vaccination is only for the because it is a response vaccination; however, the ministry has rabies control strategies where we do three vaccinations every day at offices in Oshana in Okatjali, in Ondangwa in Oshakati, in Uukwangula and in Engombe. These vaccines are done on a daily basis every everday."