507 hotspots in Kerala prone to stray dog bites

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Health Department has identified 507 hotspots in the state based on the number of people who have sought treatment for dog bites so far this year. The list of these has been handed over to the Local self government department. Hotspots were decided by arranging the list of primary health centres to medical colleges that treated dog bites in each district during a seven-month period. Thrissur Medical College, which reported 4841 cases in seven months, and Wayanad Kurukkanmoola, which reported only one case, are on the hotspot list.

Apart from the list given by the Health Department based on bites received by humans, the Animal Husbandry department will also issue a hotspot list today based on dog bites to animals. After verifying these two, the Local self department will announce the final list of hotspots. Local bodies have also been instructed to identify hotspots based on the number of dogs. According to the list provided by the Health Department, out of total 507 hotspots, Pathanamthitta has the highest number of hotspots- 64. Hotspots in other districts are Thrissur 58, Ernakulam 53, Alappuzha 39, Wayanad 32, Palakkad 32, Idukki 31, Thiruvananthapuram 31, Kozhikode 30, Malappuram 29, Kollam 29, Kasaragod 29, Kottayam 25 and Kannur 25.