Rabies vaccination continues throughout the year

Rabies disease, a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, continues to be vaccinated in pets such as cats and dogs. The Erzincan Agriculture and Forestry Provincial Directorate vaccinates the pets of citizens who apply for free throughout the year. Citizens who keep cats and dogs at home can apply to the Erzincan Agriculture and Forestry Provincial Directorate, Animal Health Breeding and Aquatic Products Branch Directorate, for free rabies vaccinations. Rabies is an infectious and deadly disease that affects humans and all warm-blooded animals, manifesting itself with symptoms such as loss of consciousness, restlessness, and paralysis. The disease occurs when a rabid animal bites another animal or when the saliva of a rabid animal comes into contact with existing wounds or cuts. In our country, rabies is spread by dogs and, in recent years, by foxes. The clinical signs of rabies in animals vary depending on the effect of the virus on the brain. Sudden changes in behavior, progressive paralysis leading to death are typical signs. However, in some cases, animals can die rapidly without showing obvious clinical signs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry teams, conducting a determined campaign against rabies disease nationwide, continue the vaccination campaign throughout the year. Erzincan Agriculture and Forestry Provincial Director Murat Şahin emphasized the importance of regularly vaccinating pets and reporting suspicious behaviors of animals to provincial and district agriculture directorates for the prevention and control of the disease. In his statement, Director Murat Şahin said, ‘Rabies is known as an important zoonotic disease that has been threatening public health since ancient times. Rabies, a viral disease that poses a significant threat to public health, is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, seen in humans, pets, and wild animals. The virus can infect wild mammals such as foxes, wolves, jackals, as well as warm-blooded animals such as dogs, cats, cows, sheep, and goats. The best way to protect against rabies is to regularly vaccinate pets such as cats and dogs and report suspicious cases to the nearest agriculture provincial and district directorates. Rabies is a preventable disease with vaccines.’ Director Murat Şahin noted that rabies vaccinations are administered free of charge by provincial and district directorates, emphasizing that vaccinations save lives.