The Federal Capital Territory Administration has confirmed eight cases of rabies in the territory, with two deaths recorded so far. The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat made the announcement on Wednesday through Dr Karnak Dandam, the director of veterinary services.
Of the eight confirmed cases, five were recorded in Gwagwalada and three in Kwali Area Councils. Both deaths occurred in these same two area councils, with one victim from each location.
Dandam described rabies as a deadly viral disease that targets the central nervous system and spreads through bites from infected dogs or cats. He warned that the virus is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear in humans, with survival extremely rare.
In infected humans, symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and pain or tingling around the bite wound. Later signs include anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, and unusual barking sounds.
Dogs infected with rabies show excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, hallucinations, and hanging jaws. They also display aggression toward their owners and severe fear of water, a condition known as hydrophobia.
Dandam stressed that immediate action after a bite can save lives. He told residents to wash bite areas thoroughly with soap and plenty of water, then seek medical treatment without delay.
Samples from the cases were sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Plateau state, for confirmation. The first batch, collected in March, tested positive that same month, while a second batch from early June returned positive results on June 15.
The secretariat launched vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats across the FCT in December 2025 and January 2026. However, the effort fell short due to insufficient vaccine supplies.
Dandam called on residents to keep their vaccinated dogs and cats confined to prevent them from roaming streets and encountering infected animals. He said this restriction was essential to stop the virus from spreading further.
The secretariat is now stepping up awareness campaigns across all six area councils, urging residents to take their pets to designated veterinary clinics for rabies vaccination and certification. According to Dandam, this coordinated approach aims to protect both animals and people.
Residents who suspect rabies cases have been asked to report them immediately to the authorities. The secretariat has made controlling the outbreak a priority through vaccination drives and public education.
