Five people have reportedly died from rabies in the Western and Western North regions in 2026, prompting health authorities to raise concerns over increasing dog-bite cases and the low rate of rabies vaccination among animals.
The situation has become more worrying following an incident in a suburb of Sekondi, where a suspected rabid stray dog reportedly attacked and bit nine people, including children.
Health authorities are urging residents to treat every dog bite seriously, warning that what may appear to be a minor encounter can have fatal consequences if proper medical attention is not sought promptly.
Two of the reported deaths occurred in Wassa East, while Jomoro and Amenfi East recorded one death each. Another death was reported in Bibiani, involving a victim from Diaso in the Central Region.
The latest incident in Sekondi has heightened concerns among residents and health officials about the dangers posed by unvaccinated, stray and free-roaming dogs.
Western Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr Simon Gbene, described the situation as alarming and warned that the region is facing a serious public health concern.
According to Dr Gbene, four rabies-related deaths had already been reported in the Western Region during the first half of 2026, including two in Wassa East and one each in Jomoro and Amenfi East.
He said the additional deaths reported in Bibiani and involving a victim from Diaso further demonstrate the seriousness of the situation.
Dr Gbene explained that the available surveillance data shows that rabies remains a concern across several districts, particularly because unvaccinated and stray dogs continue to pose a significant risk of transmission.
A major challenge, he noted, is the extremely low level of rabies vaccination among animals in the two regions.
The combined dog and cat population in the Western and Western North regions is estimated at about 166,000, based on the 2009 census. However, less than five per cent of these animals are currently vaccinated against rabies.
This is significantly below the recommended 70 per cent vaccination coverage considered necessary to effectively interrupt rabies transmission among dogs.
Dr Gbene also raised concern about the recent attack in Sekondi, where a suspected rabid stray dog reportedly bit nine people, including children.
He further warned against a dangerous belief discovered during investigations that kola nuts can be used to cure rabies.
According to him, the belief is completely false, stressing that kola nuts cannot cure rabies and should never be used as an alternative to proper medical treatment.
He also appealed for support from donors and other stakeholders to help strengthen rabies vaccination campaigns across the affected districts.
Historical data further highlights the scale of the problem. Between 2015 and 2021, the estimated average annual rate of dog bites was more than 78 cases per 100,000 people in the Western Region and nearly 73 cases per 100,000 people in Western North.
Beyond the figures, however, residents are increasingly living with fears of dog attacks while families continue to mourn relatives who could potentially have been saved through timely intervention.
Veterinary authorities are therefore urging dog owners to vaccinate and register their animals. They are also calling on local assemblies to intensify efforts to control stray and free-roaming dogs.
Rabies is mainly transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually through bites or scratches. Once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
Despite its severity, rabies deaths are largely preventable through timely medical care following exposure and effective vaccination of dogs.
By : Rachael Djabakie