THE World Health Organisation (WHO) is lobbying for mass vaccination of dogs in order to prevent the spread of rabies, which causes the deaths of more than 60,000 people annually.

The WHO made the call on Saturday as it observed World Rabies Day. It said mass vaccination of dogs is the only way to eliminate the disease.

The organisation, on its website, said that the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and the World Organisation for Animal Health are partners in its efforts to support countries plagued by rabies. The partnership is a novel one, the website stated.

Dog bites are the primary source of human rabies but not the only one. More than half of the people who die from the disease annually are children below the age of 15.

A joint statement from the three organisations outlined that: “Community participation, education and public awareness are important elements of successful rabies control programmes, and mass vaccination of dogs is critical.”

“Communities need to take responsibility for their dogs, prevent dog bites and know what to do when bitten,” it added.

Persons who are bitten by a rabid animal can survive if the wound is cleaned immediately and thoroughly with plenty of water and soap.

“Preventive rabies vaccination can be given to people at high risk of exposure from domestic or wild animals, such as animal health workers, veterinarians or laboratory personnel, to protect them before they are exposed,” said the statement.