Stray dogs taking over streets, 1.47 lakh people bitten by dogs, 19 rabies deaths

Wednesday 24 August, 2022 | 11:20 PM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The dog menace has become rampant in Kerala with the stalling of the Animal Birth Control Program (ABC), which sterilizes stray dogs. There is also a strong fear that rabies cases are on the rise in the state. There is also an increase in the number of people getting bitten by dogs and rabies-related deaths.

Nearly one and a half lakh people sought treatment for dog bites this year. 19 of them died of rabies. According to the health department, 15 of the deceased persons had not taken the vaccine. Four people died despite receiving the vaccine. This has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine. These 4 persons were bitten by dogs on the chest, face, neck, ears and palms. According to experts, the vaccine will not be much effective in such cases as the poison can quickly reach the brain through wounds in these parts. Two people died in Kozhikode and one each in Kannur and Palakkad districts despite taking the vaccine.

Kerala Kaumudi had reported the other day that the health department was not releasing the figures regarding rabies-related deaths. The authorities made the clarification following this.

The increase in the number of stray dogs can be effectively stopped only by sterilizing more than 10,000 dogs every month. Very few dogs are being sterilized nowadays. Local institutions in Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts do not sterilize even 20 dogs a day.

Cases of cat bites have also increased

Till June this year, 3.66 lakh people got vaccinated after suffering dog and cat bites. Out of this, 2.19 lakhs suffered cat bites.

Rabies-related deaths in last 8 months