Belarus hosts autumn campaign to vaccinate wild animals against rabies

Rabies is a deadly acute viral disease that can be prevented. The main source of the causative agent of infection in nature are wild predators. On September 24, Natalia Ilyina, a consultant of the department of control over anti-epizootic and preventive work of the Department of Veterinary and Food Surveillance of the Ministry of Agriculture, told reporters, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency reports.

Photo by pixabay.com

According to the specialist, infection of a person and pets occurs when in contact with a sick animal (when biting or saliva hits damaged skin and mucous membranes).

- To minimize risks, it is necessary to completely exclude contacts of wild animals with domestic animals, said N. Ilyina. Walking pets in public areas is possible only under the condition of their mandatory vaccination. Owners are required to bring dogs and cats to veterinary facilities at least once a year for inspection and vaccination. Remember that rabies is deadly for humans, so timely vaccination of a pet is a direct protection of the health of the whole family.

The expert explained: it is possible to make an anti-rabies vaccination for a pet both in state district veterinary stations and in private clinics of the capital.

N. Ilyina also said that in order to control the epidemic situation in the republic, a large-scale program for immunization of wild carnivores has been implemented since 2011. It takes place twice a year - in spring and autumn. The spring stage this year ended safely, and now in full swing autumn campaign. The process is organized by civil aviation. Special aircraft scatter lures over forest areas, inside which there is a blister with a vaccine. Forest predators find briquettes by smell, eat them and get the necessary immunity.

The representative of the Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision appealed to the residents of the republic with a convincing request: if you find such baits in the forest, in no case touch them with your hands and do not try to take home:

- Such baits are strictly forbidden to use for pets. There will be no effect, and harm can be done. We vaccinate pets strictly in the conditions of veterinary clinics under the supervision of specialists.