Stray dogs and cats will be killed in Kisii County, the Public Health Officer in the county has said.
Melitus Kabal said that they have brought this program because the cases of people who have been bitten have gone up.
Speaking to this writer, Kabal said that the increased number of patients in the hospital and the threatening situation by the stray animals has made them decide to kill all dogs and cats which have not been treated in the town.
“I have received cases from Kisii Prisons of a prison warder and prisoners who have been threatened by these dogs when they are working around town,” said Kabal.
He added that they have announced to the dogs and cat owners to take care of them or else they confine them.
Kabal said that the animals may spread rabies.
“If an animal has bitten or bruised you, seek medication attention immediately or before seven days. Failure to this could be dangerous and even fatal,” he said.
He said that it is expensive to treat rabies and residents should be careful to avoid being bitten by the animals.
“This vaccine is expensive and the poor cannot afford to pay for it. A patient can go to the hospital five times and pay between Sh 1,000 to Sh 1,200,” he added.
Evans Gesoro was attacked by a rabid dog as he was escorting his child to school at six in the morning a year ago.
“It was a total fight with the rabid dog. A police officer helped me by killing the dog using a panga,” said Gesoro.
Gesoro added that the dogs feed on waste from hotels in the town making them strong to struggle with.