Dr Victor Fayomi, a General Medical Practitioner with a private hospital in Gwagalada, FCT, as warned that leaving children unsupervised with pets could lead to zoonotic diseases.
Fayomi gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja ahead of the World Rabies Day scheduled for Sept. 28.
According to him, zoonotic diseases are diseases transmitted between animals and man.
He said the diseases are usually transmitted through contact either by way of keeping pets, poultry and animal farming, hunting and eating animal products, adding Ebola virus disease is currently the most deadly of them all.
Fayomi said diseases that could be transmitted from pets are rabies, ringworm, cat scratch disease and toxoplasmosis, among others.
“While asthma is not a zoonotic disease, it is important to note, that the fur, that is hair from cats is a major trigger for asthmatic attacks.
“It is advised that where cats and dogs are kept as pets, or cats kept as predators of rats, and dogs raised for security purposes, they should be given rabies vaccine up to date.
“Veterinary attention should also be ensured with symptoms of illness in them,” he said.
Fayomi said children should not be left with cats, dogs and other pets no matter how familiar and friendly these pets are with members of the house.
He said in case of inadvertent bites, bite sites should be thoroughly washed with soap under running water and then such a child should be taken to the hospital.
“Vaccination of dogs and cats should be done regularly and vaccination cards taken to the hospital in cases where a bite occurs,” Fayomi said.
NAN reports that World Rabies Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and highlight progress in defeating the horrifying disease. (NAN)
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