A severe shortage of rabies vaccines has hit government health facilities in Eastern Uganda amidst a surge in the number of people bitten by suspected rabid animals. A survey conducted in Tororo, Busia, and Namayingo districts revealed significant shortages of rabies vaccines, leaving many victims stranded at home or seeking help from traditional healers. Treatment for rabies is available at a few government health facilities, including Tororo Government Hospital, Rubongi Military Hospital, Mulanda and Mukujju Health Center IVs in Tororo, Masafu General Hospital in Busia, and Buyinja Health Sub-District in Namayingo.
However, these facilities have nearly run out of stock. For instance, records at Masafu General Hospital in Busia show that the facility receives only 20 doses of rabies vaccines quarterly, insufficient to meet the growing demand. Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease spread through saliva from infected animals via bites, scratches, or licks to open wounds.
It is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. Victims usually show signs of the disease within 1-3 months of being bitten and die within 7-10 days after symptoms appear. Wild carnivores, such as foxes, jackals, and wild dogs, are reservoirs for rabies and can transmit it to domestic dogs.
Symptoms in humans include headache, fear of water, difficulty swallowing, and anxiety. In animals, signs include aggressiveness, excessive salivation, and difficulty swallowing. Rabies is a significant threat in U.
