Dnipropetrovsk region leads in rabies cases among animals.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a record number of rabies cases among cats has been reported. Data for the first 11 months of 2024 was released by the State Food and Consumer Service, as reported by "Vідомо".

On the displayed map, our region is highlighted in red.

In total, 859 cases of rabies among animals were registered in Ukraine over the past year.

What You Need to Know About Rabies

Rabies is an especially dangerous, acute, contagious, extremely severe, and incurable disease that inevitably leads to death. It affects humans and all warm-blooded animals, both domestic and wild. Foxes are particularly dangerous. The source of the rabies virus is infected animals that shed the virus through their saliva.

The rabies virus can be found in the saliva and brain of an infected animal or a clinically healthy one up to 10 days before the onset of symptoms, meaning that at first glance, the animal may appear perfectly healthy. Transmission of rabies mainly occurs through bites or when the saliva of an infected animal comes into contact with fresh wounds, scratches on the skin, or mucous membranes.

To prevent the occurrence of rabies, it is essential to regularly vaccinate domestic pets against the disease, and if clinical signs of illness appear, the animal should be taken for examination at a veterinary facility. It is important to follow the rules for keeping and walking domestic dogs and cats, avoiding creating risks to the surrounding environment. To eliminate this dangerous disease, veterinary specialists carry out preventive vaccinations throughout the year for all animals susceptible to rabies.

To prevent rabies in animals, annual vaccinations should be administered to all domestic pets starting from the age of 3 months.