Chato targets 4,000 dogs, cats in rabies vaccination campaign

CHATO: THE government is set to vaccinate more than 4,000 dogs and cats against rabies in five wards of Chato District Council, Geita Region, as authorities step up efforts to control the potentially fatal disease.

The campaign, being implemented by the Ministry of Livestock through the Mwanza Zonal Veterinary Centre (ZVC), will also target more than 1,000 goats and sheep for vaccination against pneumonia.

Chato District Veterinary Officer, Dr Sostenes Joseph, announced the initiative during a public awareness campaign in Buseresere Ward ahead of the start of the vaccination exercise.

He said the campaign forms part of a five-year programme aimed at preventing rabies and ultimately eliminating the disease in Tanzania.

“We have a rabies problem here in Chato, and several cases have already been reported. So far, we have recorded four cases of people being attacked by dogs,” he said.

Dr Sostenes said no human deaths from rabies had been recorded in the district, but warned that the disease remained a concern given the large dog population.

He said vaccination of goats and sheep against pneumonia was being introduced in the district for the first time, while a similar programme for cattle was already underway.

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According to estimates for October 2026, Chato has more than 116,000 cattle, over 61,000 goats and sheep, and more than 6,000 dogs.

Mwanza Zonal Veterinary Centre officer, Dr Subira Samweli, said the campaign began with public education to raise awareness about the importance of livestock vaccination and encourage animal owners to participate.

“The initiative had been intensified amid increased reports of rabies outbreaks in various areas, raising concerns about the risks to animals and people,” she said.

Dr Subira stressed the importance of prevention, saying vaccination was more costeffective than treating people exposed to rabies.

The campaign is expected to help increase vaccination coverage among domestic animals and strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of rabies in the district.