Maryam Hindous, the head of the rabies laboratory at the Pasteur Institute of Tunisia, underscored the urgency of addressing rabies outbreaks among animals as the cause for the current culling operations of stray dogs by municipalities.
Speaking to TAP Agency on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, she noted the important risk of rabies in stray dogs, with an estimated infection rate of 50%. Hindous stressed that vaccination is the most effective method to curb the spread of the illness.
She detailed the need for appropriate disposal of euthanized animals to stop further infections, recommending burial in deep pits with lime to guarantee safety. Hindous advocated for regular vaccination of domestic animals and responsible waste management by municipalities to decrease the risk of rabies transmission among stray animals.
Emphasizing a coordinated effort across Tunisia’s health, agriculture, and interior ministries to eradicate human rabies, Hindous shared data from the Pasteur Institute’s rabies laboratory, which analyzed 1,281 samples in 2023, identifying rabies in 28% of animals and 19.51% in dogs specifically. The year furthermore witnessed nearly 40,000 incidents of suspected animal attacks and six human fatalities due to rabies.
Hindous pointed out the Tunisian government’s dedication to providing free rabies vaccinations, costing 6 million dinars annually, available at 362 anti-rabies centers across the country. She highlighted the global goal of achieving zero rabies deaths by 2030 and the volume of immediate care following exposure to a potential rabies bite.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s initiative to offer free dog vaccinations during their annual campaign and year-round at their centers was also mentioned. Nevertheless, Hindous critiqued the ethical implications of the culling strategy, indicating it as a misguidedly justified approach to rabies control, indicating a need for a more humane and effective solution to this public health issue.
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