Ethiopian Town Kills 500 Dogs to Halt Rabies Outbreak

Authorities in Negele Borana, Oromia region, Ethiopia, ordered the mass culling of dogs after a rabies outbreak resulted in five fatalities. Residents stated that approximately 500 dogs were killed over three days. The directive mandated that households with dogs eliminate them or face apprehension.

One resident recounted burying six of his own dogs, while another described the grim necessity of hanging their dog to avoid police intervention. The local administration reportedly implemented the measure to contain the spread of the virus after the human deaths were confirmed.

Rabies, a vaccine-preventable viral disease, remains endemic in many parts of Ethiopia. The country lacks comprehensive vaccination programmes for domestic animals, contributing to periodic outbreaks that pose a public health risk. Previous incidents have seen similar drastic measures implemented in attempts to control the disease's transmission.