A 12-year-old girl from Asokore in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region has died from rabies after being bitten by a three-month-old dog, the District Director of Health, Dr Justice Ofori-Amoah, has confirmed.
Speaking at an annual performance review meeting, Dr Ofori-Amoah revealed that the child had been exposed to the virus in October 2024, an incident he described as both avoidable and preventable.
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Two weeks after being bitten on her left leg, she began experiencing itching at the site. On February 10, 2025, she developed severe headaches, fever, and nausea. Later that evening, her condition worsened as she displayed symptoms of disorientation, aggression, and difficulty concentrating. She was admitted to the Effiduase Government Hospital, where she died on February 11 at approximately 6 p.m.
“Unfortunately, one of the bites that took place in 2024 has resulted in the child’s death this year, which could have been prevented,” Dr Ofori-Amoah said.
The case marks the first reported rabies death in the district this year, occurring nearly a month after an awareness and sensitisation campaign was held for schoolchildren, health workers, chiefs, and community members. The Sekyere East District recorded two of the five confirmed rabies cases in the Ashanti Region in 2024, prompting an intensified education effort on the disease.
Dr. Ofori-Amoah stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after exposure to bites from dogs, cats, or monkeys, noting that treatment should be administered even if symptoms have not yet appeared.
Mass vaccination campaign launched
To combat the rising threat of rabies, the Sekyere East District Health Directorate, in collaboration with the veterinary department, launched a mass vaccination campaign in Ahwerewa in January 2024. The initiative aimed to vaccinate dogs and cats to curb the spread of the disease.
District Veterinary Officer Irene Efua Acquah explained that areas with high dog populations were being prioritized, as they posed a greater risk of rabies outbreaks. She also sought to dispel the misconception that rabies vaccination affects a dog’s hunting instincts.
“We want to erase such misconceptions from people’s minds,” she stated.
Following the campaign in Ahwerewa, plans were outlined for a coordinated vaccination rollout in surrounding communities, including Nustem, Okaikrom, Obaapaninkrom, and Attakrom.
Ms Acquah urged residents to treat dog bite incidents as medical emergencies. “Dog bite cases should be treated with urgency. It is crucial to visit the hospital and receive proper treatment before considering any other actions,” she cautioned.
