15 animals infected with rabies bit their owners in the Mykolaiv region last year

Most of the pets that contracted rabies in the Mykolaiv region had not been vaccinated. Illustrative photo: thriftyfun.com

Most of the animals in the Mykolaiv region in which rabies was detected had owners. Last year, there were 18 cases where rabid animals bit people. Fifteen of them had owners. In other words, the owners had not vaccinated their animals in time.

This was reported during a briefing at the Main Directorate of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in the Mykolaiv region on 4 June, according to NikVesti.

According to the head of the department, Serhii Rekun, the number of rabies cases in animals is decreasing. Last year, there were 41 cases in the Mykolaiv region, and in the first half of 2026, there were 9.

Advertising

Serhii Shvets, acting first deputy head of the Main Directorate of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in the Mykolaiv region, noted that in 2024, the highest number of cases of rabies in animals was in the Voznesensk district, namely 13. In 2025, the highest number was in the Bashtanka district (20 cases). This district also leads in the first quarter of this year, with four cases of rabies in animals recorded.

Preventive vaccination was cited as the key factor in preventing rabies. Serhii Shvets noted that in 2025, 108,065 dogs and 73,080 cats were vaccinated. A total of 221,051 baits were distributed across 37 hunting grounds. This year, 7,617 dogs and 5,551 cats have already been vaccinated.

«And recently, the Main Directorate of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection received an additional 82,000 doses of rabies vaccine for preventive vaccinations, as well as for emergency vaccinations in high-risk areas,» noted Serhii Shvets.

He noted that the vaccination of wild animals in the Mykolaiv region had been planned for the spring. However, the campaign did not take place. It is therefore planned for the autumn. To this end, a team of 141 people has been formed to lay out bait for the animals, comprising veterinarians, representatives of hunting estates and local authorities.

Serhii Shvets also clarified that in 2024, 38 affected areas were registered in the Mykolaiv region, where 38 animals fell ill: cattle, cats, dogs, foxes, raccoons and coypu. Five of these animals bit people.

«One animal was a pet. In other words, the owner had neglected to have the animal vaccinated, and consequently the animal contracted rabies. In 2025, 39 affected areas were recorded, in which 41 animals fell ill. These included cattle, small ruminants, dogs, foxes, martens and raccoons. Of the 41 infected animals, 18 bit people. And only three animals were strays. In other words, 15 animals were pets that had owners and had not been vaccinated,» said Serhii Shvets.

In the first quarter of 2026, there were eight locations in the Mykolaiv region where rabies was recorded. Nine animals fell ill, and five of them bit people. All of them had owners.

The State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection noted that in any case, animals are vaccinated in areas affected by rabies, regardless of when they were last vaccinated.

According to the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, pets must be vaccinated against rabies annually (one dose of the vaccine is administered), starting from the age of three months. Experts also pointed out that state veterinary hospitals provide free vaccinations.

«Our veterinary hospitals do this free of charge. The vaccine is purchased by the state, provided, and owners can apply,» said Oleksandr Kulishov, head of the Mykolaiv Regional Veterinary Hospital.

It should be noted that medical facilities in Mykolaiv and the region have rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin . At the same time, the epidemic situation in the region remains critical, so medical professionals are urging residents not to delay seeking medical attention after being bitten by an animal.

Also, NikVesti reported that in Mykolaiv, a yachtsman was hospitalised after being attacked by dogs on the grounds of the «Atlant» children’s sports school. The dogs were being used to guard the premises. Representatives of the Expert and Public Council attached to the Executive Committee of Mykolaiv City Council claim that the animals were outside their enclosures, posing a danger to visitors and pupils at the sports school.