Eight people have died of rabies in Eastern Province this year.
Provincial Disease Surveillance Officer, Jordan Banda said this yesterday when he presented the status of Epidemics report during the fourth quarter provincial epidemics preparedness control meeting in Chipata.
Mr. Banda says the eight rabies deaths are the highest ever recorded in the province.
Mr. Banda says this was out of 990 dog bites recorded in the province.
He says Petauke district recorded three deaths, while Chipata, Chadiza, Lundazi, Katete and Nyimba recorded one death each.
Mr. Banda says Sinda, Mambwe and Vubwi districts did not record any rabies deaths.
And Eastern Province Acting Veterinary Officer, Chrisborn Mubamba told Breeze News that his department is conducting dog vaccinations to prevent the animals from contracting rabies.
Dr. Mubamba however, says the challenge has been lack of resources to conduct the dog vaccination exercise frequently.
He says the department will be frequently conducting the dog vaccination exercise once it receives funding from government.