6 Cases of "Rabies" Recorded in the West Bank Since Early 2025

SadaNews - The Director General of Veterinary Services and Animal Wealth at the Ministry of Agriculture, Iyad Al-Aadra, announced today, Sunday, that six confirmed cases of rabies in animals have been recorded since the beginning of 2025, with dog bites rising to over a thousand in the West Bank governorates, up until mid-August, following the recording of two rabies infections, one of which was fatal.

Al-Aadra stated in an interview with the official agency that agriculture teams are monitoring all reported bite cases from health departments in the governorates through investigations, assessments, sample collection, and sending them to laboratories for diagnosis, where examinations are conducted on suspected animals showing symptoms of the disease, or those that bite a person.

Rabies is one of the serious viral diseases that affect the nervous system in humans through animals, and if not treated immediately after exposure, it often leads to death.

Al-Aadra pointed out that the ministry has implemented a comprehensive national campaign to vaccinate animals since the beginning of the year, covering 4,878 animals owned by 1,322 citizens across various governorates, through 150 field sites. The campaign focused on Jenin (1,031 animals), Jericho (800), Nablus (700), and Ramallah (690), in addition to the governorates of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Tubas, Dura, and Yatta.

Vaccinations were distributed according to the type of targeted animals, with 3,111 dogs and 1,305 cats vaccinated, along with 178 horses and 237 donkeys, as well as other animals such as camels and foxes (32 cases).

He noted that the Ministry has intensified awareness and guidance programs on ways to prevent the disease, by holding seminars in the field and using media and social media platforms, to raise citizens' awareness of the importance of vaccinating their pets and avoiding contact with stray animals.

For his part, Diaa Hajji, Director of the Preventive Medicine Department at the Ministry of Health, stated in an interview with "Wafa" that his ministry is monitoring all reported bite cases in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and partners by providing necessary vaccinations for citizens who are bitten.

Hajji indicated that more than 99% of rabies cases worldwide come from stray dogs, although there are other animals that can transmit the disease. He added that Palestine records more than 100 bite cases monthly at the governorate level, with the most notable cases in Jenin, Ramallah, and Al-Bireh.

He noted that the number of reported bites has exceeded a thousand cases since the beginning of this year, compared to around a thousand cases recorded throughout the entire year of 2024, representing an increase of more than half.

Hajji confirmed that any bite case is dealt with immediately, whether by examining the biting animal to ensure its infection, or by providing preventive vaccinations to the affected individual.

Rabies is transmitted to humans, according to Hajji, usually "through the bite of an infected animal, where the contaminated material carries the virus into the human body. It is a non-contagious disease from one human to another, but it is essential to receive the vaccine immediately after exposure to a bite or scratch to prevent the disease.

As part of control efforts, municipalities and local authorities are conducting vaccination campaigns for animals and intensifying public sanitation efforts, particularly cleaning containers and slaughterhouse areas, to limit the spread of this disease which has begun to increase in populated areas.

The relevant authorities have urged the need to avoid contact with stray animals, vaccinate household pets against the disease with available vaccines in private veterinary clinics, and report any bite case immediately, as well as the importance of washing the bite area immediately with water and soap for at least ten minutes to prevent worsening the wound if the animal is a virus carrier.

Rabies is considered one of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases, as it attacks the central nervous system and causes severe neurological symptoms that may lead to death if medical intervention is not provided in a timely manner.

Numbers indicate that combating this disease requires comprehensive cooperation between health and veterinary authorities and local bodies in the governorates to mitigate its risks and protect public health.

The ministries and relevant bodies have urged to avoid approaching stray and wild animals, receive appropriate vaccinations in case of potential exposure, and vaccinate pets against rabies.