Alert sounded; stray dog samples in Thiruvananthapuram test positive for rabies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This topic has been addressed countless times but it seems like it never loses its relevance in contemporary Kerala. Stray dogs have taken over the streets in the capital city. Be it hospitals, schools or residential areas, they are present in packs or at rare times, in solitude. A few days before, 32 people in the capital city were attacked by one stray dog. Two of them had serious injuries.

The State Institute of Animal Diseases (SIAD) at Palakkad has tested positive for rabies in one-third of the dog samples received from Thiruvananthapuram city. Out of 57 stray samples collected by SIAD, 15 tested positive for rabies.

The dogs that attacked people near Ayurveda College Junction tested positive for rabies. Palode is one of the five centres in the state that conducts rabies testing under the Animal Welfare Department.

Dr Sanjay Devarajan, officer in charge of disease investigation at SIAD, blamed the inept implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program as the cause of current concern. The Corporation is working to increase the ABC scheme and vaccination to solve this problem. A memorandum of understanding with the Compassion for Animal Welfare Association has also been renewed to strengthen the vaccination process. At present, ABC surgeries are being performed only in veterinary hospitals in PMG and Pettah under the corporation limits.

According to the survey conducted by the municipality and CAWA, there are 8679 stray dogs in the municipality. Of these, 42 per cent were vaccinated. Dogs also carry other disease-causing parasites (fleas). Experts say that these can lower antibody levels even in vaccinated dogs. Besides the dogs, 21 cats, three jackals, one cow and one leopard were tested at the State Institute of Animal Diseases.