Rabies Claims Two Lives in FCT as Authorities Prepare Mass Vaccination
Eight confirmed cases recorded in Gwagwalada and Kwali as veterinary authorities warn residents over roaming and unvaccinated dogs and cats
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Rabies has claimed two lives in the Federal Capital Territory after eight cases were confirmed in Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils, prompting the FCT Administration to intensify public awareness and prepare for a territory-wide vaccination campaign.
The Director of Veterinary Services in the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT Administration, Dr Karnak Dandam, confirmed the outbreak in Abuja, saying the two deaths resulted from bites by rabid dogs.
Dandam said five of the confirmed cases were recorded in Gwagwalada and three in Kwali, with samples tested at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, confirming the presence of the virus.
According to him, the first samples were taken in March, with results confirming rabies the same month, while another set collected in early June tested positive on June 15.
“There are eight confirmed cases of samples taken for testing at the National Reference Laboratory, NVRI, and they came out positive,” he said.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is transmitted through the bite of an infected dog or cat.
Dandam said the disease is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms develop, making immediate medical attention following a suspected exposure critical.
He advised anyone bitten by a dog or cat to wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and plenty of water before seeking medical treatment immediately.
The veterinary director said symptoms in humans can initially include fever, headache, fatigue and pain or unusual sensations around the bite site, before progressing to more severe neurological symptoms including anxiety, confusion and hallucinations.
He also warned residents to watch for behavioural changes in dogs and cats, particularly animals that suddenly become withdrawn, unusually aggressive or begin attacking people or objects without provocation.
According to Dandam, an infected dog may initially isolate itself and lose interest in normal activities before becoming increasingly aggressive.
He said advanced infection could cause the animal to roam with its jaw open, followed by paralysis and death.
The FCT Administration has advised residents to prevent dogs and cats from roaming freely, particularly animals that have not been vaccinated.
Dandam said vaccination campaigns had previously been conducted across the FCT in December 2025 and January 2026, but the available doses were insufficient to cover all animals in the territory.
The administration is now taking steps to procure additional vaccines ahead of a planned mass vaccination exercise across the six area councils.
“The secretariat is also sensitising residents across the six area councils to take their dogs and cats to designated public and private veterinary clinics for rabies vaccination and certification,” Dandam said.
He said the planned campaign would extend into communities, villages and towns across the territory in an effort to achieve wider coverage.
“Anywhere there is a dog and a cat, we will visit, vaccinate and give the owners a certificate of vaccination and licence. That’s our plan,” he said.
The veterinary authorities also appealed to residents to report dog bites and seek medical attention rather than attempting to treat suspected rabies exposure at home.
The outbreak has placed renewed attention on responsible animal ownership, particularly the need for vaccination, confinement and prompt reporting of suspected cases.
With two deaths already recorded and eight confirmed cases in Gwagwalada and Kwali, the FCT Administration is now banking on wider vaccination and public awareness to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.
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