Vaccination against rabies in dogs and cats in the city of São Paulo this year plummeted compared to 2018, when the city government promoted the last animal immunization campaign.
This year, until Tuesday (18), 165,986 animals received doses, being 97,940 dogs and 68,046 cats, in 16 fixed posts.
Five years ago, during the campaign in August and September, there were 1,900 posts spread across the city and 855,027 animals were vaccinated. Therefore, what the city vaccinated in about ten months of 2022 is still 81% lower than what was achieved in the brief period of the last official mobilization.
The current situation is a little better than that observed during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, there were 163,182 animals vaccinated and, in 2020, there were 104,208.
In a statement, the City of São Paulo says that “with the absence of cases of rabies in humans since 1997 and cases of rabies in dogs and cats since 1998, the anti-rabies vaccination of dogs and cats was suspended in the form of a campaign for the entire the state of São Paulo, as determined by the State Government in the Official Gazette, on December 15, 2021, and must be maintained as a routine strategy of the Rabies Surveillance and Control Program in the State of São Paulo”.
But the interruption of campaigns against rabies in dogs and cats in the city began earlier, in 2019, when the São Paulo Executive, under the management of Bruno Covas (PSDB), alleged a lack of vaccines, which should be sent by the federal government.
In 2020, the prefecture announced the suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In December 2021, the permanent suspension was announced throughout the state of São Paulo.
Since then, through the Municipal Health Department, the city offers doses against rabies, throughout the year, in only 16 fixed posts.
By law, rabies vaccination is mandatory for dogs and cats across the country. Animals over three months of age must be immunized. The booster must be annual.
Biologist and veterinarian Waldir Stefano, a professor at the Center for Biological and Health Sciences at Mackenzie Presbyterian University, in São Paulo, says he is concerned about the end of vaccination campaigns in the city of São Paulo.
“Although rabies is relatively controlled in dogs and cats, I do not believe that we should let our guard down. If we have the animals vaccinated, we have the guarantee that the disease will not return. The importance of the vaccine must be repeated always”, declares Stefano .
The professor cites recent cases of rabies virus infections in the bovine population. According to him, the low adherence of ranchers to immunization caused the problem. “It was just a little carelessness that got them into trouble,” he says.
Stefano points out that, if there are recorded cases of rabies in animals, the population should redouble attention to zoonosis in humans. According to the specialist, the lethality is higher in this species compared to others.
“Campaigns should come back, and the City Hall still has time to review this. I believe that we must be attentive to the disease as much as possible, and prevention is, without a doubt, the vaccine”, says the specialist.
what is the disease
Rabies is a zoonosis – a disease that passes from animals to humans and vice versa – caused by a virus.
According to the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine, transmission occurs when the rabies virus existing in the saliva of an infected animal penetrates the body of a healthy individual through the skin or mucous membranes, through bites, scratches or licks.
In all animals, the following symptoms usually appear: difficulty swallowing, profuse salivation, change in behavior, change in eating habits and paralysis of the hind legs.
In dogs, barking becomes hoarse. Bats, nocturnal animals, can be found confused during the day.
In humans, however, a picture of hallucinations is installed, accompanied by fever and, later, periodic seizures appear.
Where to vaccinate your animal in SP
– Penha steering station – Penha Subprefecture, access via Rua Mandu, 451; Monday to Friday, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
– Zoonosis Surveillance Division – Rua Santa Eulalia, 86; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm; Saturdays, from 9 am to 3 pm.
– Uvis Butantã – ave. Caxingui, 656/658; Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 3 pm.
– Uvis City Ademar – Rua Maria Cuofano Salzano, 185; Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 3 pm.
– Uvis Ermelino Matarazzo – Rua Aurivercine Duarte de Oliveira, 50; Monday to Friday from 8h to 17h.
– Uvis Parish of Ó – Rua Chico de Paula, 238; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm.
– Guaianases Uvis – street Prof. Francisco Pinheiro, 179; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm;
– Uvis Itaim Paulista – Rua Ererê, 260; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
– Uvis Jabaquara – Rua Genaro de Carvalho, 101; Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 3 pm.
– Uvis Jacana – Rua Maria Amália Lopes de Azevedo, 3676; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 11 am and from 2 pm to 4 pm.
– Uvis Lapa – Sumidouro Street, 712; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
– Uvis Parelheiros – Rua Cristina Schunck Klein, 23; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm.
– Uvis São Mateus – Rua Mauro Bonafé Pauletti, 199; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
– Uvis Sao Miguel – Rua José Pereira Cardoso, 193; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm.
– Uvis Vila Prudente – Rua Ettore Ximenes, s/nº; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
– Uvis M’Boi Mirim – Rua Baldomero Carqueja, 60; Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm.
I have over 3 years of experience working in the news industry. I have worked for various news websites and have been an author at News Bulletin 247 for the past 2 years. I mostly cover technology news and have a keen interest in keeping up with the latest trends in the industry. I am a highly motivated individual who is always looking to improve my skills and knowledge.
