The local government in Montes Claros has kicked off an emergency vaccination blitz for pets across three key neighborhoods. This decisive action comes directly in response to the confirmed discovery of a bat carrying the rabies virus in the area.
The campaign is targeting all dogs and cats that are at least three months old and have not received their rabies shot in the past six months. Officials are urging pet owners in the São Lucas, Nova América, and Recanto das Águas districts to take immediate advantage of this service.
The vaccination drive is operating on a tight schedule, running until this Friday, May 8th. Pet owners can bring their animals to one of two temporary stations set up for the event. The first is located at Rua Cinco, number 11, in the Recanto das Águas neighborhood. The second station is at Rua H, number 451, in Nova América.
Both vaccination points will be open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In addition to the rabies shots, the city is also using this opportunity to conduct testing for leishmaniasis in dogs, providing a broader health check for the community's pets.
The city administration is stressing the critical importance of this vaccination effort. They emphasize that it is the primary method for protecting animal health and, crucially, for preventing the transmission of rabies to humans. Rabies is a fatal viral disease, making this preventive measure a public health priority.
For residents who are unable to visit the temporary vaccination posts during the campaign dates, the city has provided an alternative. They can take their pets to the permanent Centro de Controle de Zoonoses (CCZ). This facility is located at Avenida Antônio Lafetá Rebelo, number 1371, in the Santa Lúcia II neighborhood.
The CCZ offers rabies vaccination for dogs and cats from Monday to Friday, with morning hours from 7:00 AM to 10:45 AM and afternoon hours from 1:00 PM to 4:45 PM. The center also handles leishmaniasis testing and the reception of animals for euthanasia, which requires a veterinary medical report, from Monday to Thursday during the same times.
Based on reporting from g1.