Harare, (New Ziana) – A new report from the Ministry of Health and Child Care has exposed alarming gaps in Zimbabwe’s dog vaccination coverage, raising renewed concerns over the risk of rabies and other zoonotic diseases across the country.

According to the Ministry’s Weekly Disease Surveillance Report for the week ending 26 October 2025, only 16.9% of dogs involved in reported bite incidents were known to be vaccinated.

The statistics show that of the 602 dog bite cases recorded during the week, 102 were from vaccinated dogs, 124 (20.6%) from unvaccinated dogs, while a staggering 376 cases (62.5%) involved dogs whose vaccination status could not be confirmed.

The report also recorded one death, reported in Gwanda District in Matabeleland South, underscoring the life-threatening consequences of poor dog vaccination coverage.

Midlands Province topped the list of dog bite incidents with 90 cases, closely followed by Mashonaland West Province with 89 cases, signalling widespread risk across the nation.

To date, Zimbabwe has recorded a cumulative total of 22,953 dog bite cases and three deaths in 2025 alone, painting a troubling picture of public health vulnerability.

The Ministry said the extremely high percentage of dogs with unknown vaccination status should be a wake-up call for dog owners and authorities alike.

“While the 20.6% of dogs confirmed to be unvaccinated is worrying on its own, the additional 62.5% whose vaccination records are unclear presents an even greater challenge for disease control efforts,” it said in the latest dog bites statistics.

Rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, remains a preventable threat—but only if dog populations are adequately vaccinated.

The Ministry continues to urge citizens to vaccinate their pets and report stray or suspicious animals to local authorities.

New Ziana