By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Yobe State Pilot Livestock Development Program has successfully averted a potential health crisis following a swift response to a rabies outbreak in Malam Matari, a community on the outskirts of Damaturu.
A rapid response health team, led by Dr. Bulama Maina Yaro, Program Manager, supervised the safe disposal and deep burial of two goats that had been bitten by an infected dog.
The intervention was designed to eliminate the risk of further virus transmission and prevent human fatalities in the area.
According to Dr. Yaro, the incident was triggered when a rabid dog attacked five residents and livestock in the community.
The sample from the rabies dog was collected and taken to NVIR Lab in Jos Plateau state and the sample was tested prooved positive as a result the vertenary rapid response health team swung to action to curtail the spread of the Virus .
He assured the public that the situation is firmly under control, noting that the five human victims are currently out of danger and undergoing treatment with a five-dose regimen of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccines.
The operation was conducted in partnership with the State Ministry of Livestock, represented by the Director of Veterinary Public Health, Abdullahi Maiwada.
