Bauchi State has recorded no fewer than 200 cases of dog bites in 2024.

The State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who made the disclosure while launching the 2025 Annual Livestock Vaccination Campaign in the Itas-Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi, said the government has also made available 10,000 doses of anti-rabies to fight the disease across the state.

He revealed that cases of dog bites were reported in several local governments last year, with 23 confirmed cases of rabies.“Considering the deadly nature of rabies which is zoonotic disease transmitted through dog bite by unvaccinated dog, the state government has purchased 10,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines and distributed them to all the veterinary clinics across the 20 local government areas to curb the escalation of the disease”, he said.

He called on the people that were keeping dogs as pets for hunting or for security reasons to carry them to the nearest veterinary hospital for vaccination free of charge.

He further disclosed that the state government had earmarked the sum of N8.9 million for the 2025 annual Livestock vaccination.

The governor noted that the vaccination campaign had been prioritized towards fighting diseases.

He further disclosed that the sum of N80.9 million have been budgeted to conduct the by-annual livestock vaccination campaign with an initial release of N40 million.

“For this round of vaccination campaign, the total of 1 million herds of cattle, 500 sheep and goats, as well as 500 poultry are targeted to be vaccinated across the state”, the Governor said.