GUYANA yesterday joined other countries the world over in observing World Rabies Day 2014, with a reffirmation of its commitment to eradicate the scourge. 

“While we have an active programme to eradicate rabies, Guyana today joins the rest of the world to re-affirm our commitment to end the rabies scourge in animals, particularly domesticated animals,” Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said, adding:
“Guyana will continue our efforts, in keeping with this year’s global theme, ‘Together Against Rabies’, to consolidate our status as a country free from rabies in humans and pets.”
In Guyana, Rabies occurs in cattle primarily. These cases come about as a result of the animal being bitten by vampire bats. In cases where there is a suspected outbreak of rabies in cattle, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s (GLDA) veterinarians will take control measures which include vaccination, vampire bat reduction, public education and disease surveillance.
The GLDA is a semi-autonomous agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, created in 2010, in which resides the Animal Health and Animal Production Departments. These departments work with the farming community and with the Veterinary Public Health Department, Ministry of Health to ensure that rabies doesn’t become a widespread problem, affecting, dogs, cats and humans.
ANIMAL QUARANTINE
There have been no reported cases of rabies in humans and pets in Guyana. In an effort to maintain this, the Government of Guyana has recently constructed an Animal Quarantine Facility at Timehri. This facility will be utilised to keep animals that may not have met the legal requirements for entry into the country and which may have originated from rabies-infected countries.
This World Rabies Day, the Ministry of Agriculture and GLDA took the opportunity to remind farmers, particularly those in affected regions, to vaccinate their cattle against rabies.
The agencies also reminded persons desirous of bringing pet animals into the country to seek guidance on the correct procedures to be adopted.
“This will help to reduce the possibility of bringing in a rabies-infected animal,” the agencies said, adding: “Let’s do our part to make the world rabies free.”