Khaberni - The Egyptian authorities announced "vaccinating and neutering more than 11,000 stray dogs" over more than a month as part of the national strategy to fight rabies.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation stated in a statement today, Monday, that "the total vaccinated and neutered street dogs since the beginning of last month until now has reached 11,642 dogs, including vaccinating 10,282 dogs, and neutering 1,360 dogs, with participation from civil society organizations, and through cooperation and coordination with the Specific Union for Animal Welfare."
The head of the General Authority for Veterinary Services, Dr. Hamed Al-Ekhnas, affirmed that these efforts are "part of the state's plan to control rabies, as it is one of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases that pose a direct threat to public health."
The head of the Authority clarified that the field veterinary teams "continue to carry out vaccination and neutering activities according to the approved scientific standards and criteria, ensuring the safety of citizens, controlling the disease, reducing its risks, and achieving sustainable management of the numbers of street dogs in a humane and safe manner."
In 2021, Egypt launched the national strategy to eliminate rabies, through vaccination and campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of avoiding contact with stray animals and ensuring periodic vaccination of pets, along with providing immediate prophylactic treatment.
The Egyptian government aims to eradicate the phenomenon of rabies-causing stray animals by 2030, which costs the state treasury 1.2 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately 23.6 million dollars) annually to buy serums to treat citizens who are exposed to bites.
Rabies or rabies is a dangerous viral disease that affects dogs and other mammalian animals, and it may be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches. It is life-threatening if not dealt with promptly, and usually appears after an incubation period ranging from two weeks to three months after exposure to the virus.
