A street dog rests by the street side in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, March 7, 2013. (Xinhua/Gao Jianjun)
HARARE, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Veterinary authorities in Bindura, 100 km north of Harare, have ordered residents of the town to lock up their dogs within their premises following an outbreak of rabies in and around the town or risk them being shot and killed.
No cases of human casualties have been reported in the area so far, but at least one person reportedly died from rabies in the Midlands Province in late January.
A notice issued Wednesday by Mashonaland Central Provincial Veterinary Officer Wilmot Chikurunhe said the dog tie-up would be effective March 19-23 while dog vaccinations were currently underway up to Friday.
"During the tie-up period and beyond, personnel from the Veterinary Services will conduct a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. operation to terminate all dogs seen on the streets. Owners are advised to keep their dogs in fences and walls in accordance with municipal by-laws so they do not escape into the streets," he said.
He also advised those who had challenges keeping their dogs to surrender them to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals before the tie-up period.
Rabies is a notifiable disease in Zimbabwe and in humans is mostly transmitted through the bite of the domestic dog.
According to the country's law, all dogs should be vaccinated against rabies.