The Western Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr Christopher Tagoe, has entreated dog owners to regularly vaccinate their dogs against rabbis to avoid the spread of the virus.
He said there had been an increase in dog bites in the region with an average of six to eight bites a month, and about 20 bites during the breeding season.
Dr Tagoe told the Ghana News Agency Monday that the Veterinary Services conducted rabbis vaccination exercises at Shama and Ahanta West districts last year, and would continue the exercise this year to sensitise the public on dangers of the virus.
With regards to the outbreak of African Swine Fever in the Ellembelle District, he said the Veterinary Services had drawn up a programme to educate pig farmers on biosecurity in some districts, including Ellembelle, Nzema East, Ahanta West, Sekondi-Takoradi and Shama.
He said his outfit had submitted budget on workshops lined up for livestock farmers to prevent the occurrence of similar outbreaks in future.
“As veterinary officers, we are duty-bound to search for diseases and put measures in place to halt the spread of any livestock-related infections, therefore we are always on the lookout to ensure sanity in the livestock sector,” he noted.
More than 1,000 pigs were recently destroyed in the Ellembelle District for contracting African Swine Fever.