Latest news with #Anti-RabiesVaccination
Borneo Post
19-07-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Rabies awareness must include cats, says MDLBS chairman
A Department of Veterinary Services officer administering an anti-rabies injection during the programme at Sang Ik Methodist Church, Tanjung Kunyit. SIBU (July 19): Public awareness about rabies must expand to include cats, as the disease is not exclusive to dogs and infected cats can pose hidden threats within homes, said Sibu Rural District Council (MDLBS) chairman Councillor Sempurai Petrus Ngelai. Speaking at the MDLBS-organised Anti-Rabies Vaccination, Microchipping and Licensing Programme at Sang Ik Methodist Church in Tanjung Kunyit today, he said many people still mistakenly believe that rabies only affects dogs. 'We now know that several recent rabies cases involved cats. People often assume that cats are less dangerous because they live indoors. But infected cats, especially those that have come into contact with stray cats outside and then return indoors, can pose a greater danger,' he said. Also present at the event were MDLBS Standing Committee Chairman for Environment and Public Health and SUPP Bawang Assan Chairman, Cr Kevin Lau, MDLBS secretary Ng Siang Wei, community leaders and others. Sempurai explained that while rabid dogs typically show clear symptoms such as excessive drooling or aversion to sunlight and water, signs of infection in cats are harder to detect. Sempurai (fourth left) observing the Anti-Rabies Vaccination, Microchipping and Licensing Programme organised by MDLBS at Sang Ik Methodist Church, Tanjung Kunyit today. Also seen are Lau (second right), Ng (right), and others. 'I hope MDLBS and the officers from the Department of Veterinary Services can also focus more on cats, so that the public becomes aware that cats can be rabies carriers too,' he said. He called on the public to spread the word about the campaign to encourage more people to get their pets vaccinated and microchipped. The microchipping, he said, is crucial not only for controlling rabies but also for tracking the local pet population more effectively. 'We don't want the public to assume that rabies cases are caused solely by stray dogs. In many cases, the animals were actually owned pets that had left their homes, became infected, and bit people. That is even more dangerous. 'During my tenure as MDLBS chairman, we've already seen that most stray dogs were caught over the past two to three years. What we're seeing roaming around now are mostly pet dogs,' he said. He stressed that microchipping would help authorities track the number of pets in specific areas and respond more effectively to any cases. 'For example, here in Tanjung Kunyit, if we chip every dog, we will know exactly how many are here. If there is a rabies case, we can quickly contain and monitor the situation,' he added. In conjunction with the campaign, officers from the Department of Veterinary Services were seen administering anti-rabies vaccines to pets brought by their owners.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Dogs from GP limits stray into Bengaluru areas, spark rabies fear
BENGALURU: With the city's suburbs having a stray dog population of around 70,000 and the status of their anti-rabies vaccination unknown, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) animal husbandry department officials express deep concern over the spread of rabies among vaccinated dogs in BBMP as well as migration of unvaccinated stray dogs from panchayats, especially in Bommanahalli, RR Nagar and Mahadevapura. As per a senior veterinarian from the BBMP animal husbandry department, on average, at least 50 to 100 stray dogs in these Gram Panchayats (GPs) are unvaccinated and as dogs are scavengers by nature, there is a possibility of them spreading infection among dogs in BBMP limits. 'BBMP managed to complete above 80 per cent of Animal Birth Control (ABC) among stray dogs in East, West, South, Yelahanka and Dasarahalli zones but both the ABC and Anti-Rabies Vaccination programme in Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli and RR Nagar remain a big challenge. Due to population control of dogs in the past, strays from gram panchayats of Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli and RR Nagar have migrated into BBMP areas due to their scavenging nature and it is quite natural. BBMP has a budget only for ABC and vaccination under its limits, hence it's worried about rabies from scavenging strays,' said a senior veterinary doctor in BBMP, adding that if infection is found in one stray dog, ring vaccination has to be done for at least 100 strays in the surrounding areas as a precaution. As per records, there are 31 gram panchayats spread across these zones. According to animal husbandry department officials, there are approximately 70,000 stray dogs in Bengaluru Urban excluding BBMP limits, and each Town Municipal Corporation and City Municipal Corporation decides its Animal Birth Control and Anti Rabies Programme. A GP official from Bidaraguppe, near Anekal taluk, adjacent to Bommanahalli zone, said in their limits, only 50 per cent of the Animal Birth Control programme was undertaken and there is no clarity on anti-rabies vaccination. Echoing this, an official of Mandur Gram Panchayat in Mahadevapura Zone says the plan regarding Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination among stray dogs in East taluk is yet to be discussed. 'There is a state as well as national goal to eliminate rabies by 2030. Our gram panchayat is yet to get directions on both programmes,' said the official.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Sterilisation halted: Panchkula grapples with rising stray dog menace
Residents of Panchkula are increasingly carrying sticks for protection during their morning and evening walks, a direct consequence of a surging stray dog population and a two-month halt in sterilisation efforts. As per the livestock Census-2019, there were 2,340 dogs in Panchkula. An MC official informed, no new survey was conducted recently. The municipal corporation (MC) acknowledged the stalled sterilization drive, stating that a new tender is currently undergoing technical scrutiny and will be allotted soon. Meanwhile, daily dog bite cases at civil hospital, Sector-6, range from 12 to 15. Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal said 300 to 400 dog bite cases are reported every month. Despite a November 2023 directive from the Punjab and Haryana high court mandating compensation for dog bite victims (minimum ₹10,000 per tooth mark and ₹20,000 per 0.2 cm wound where flesh is torn), the district administration currently lacks a clear policy or dedicated funds for such compensation. Sources indicate the local administration has sought guidance from the chief secretary on policy formulation. While applications for compensation are being considered, it remains undecided whether the policy will cover victims retrospectively. Goyal added that the MC is prepared to provide compensation but is unable to do so without a decision from higher authorities. However, the state government's Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Parivar Suraksha Yojana (DAYALU) scheme does offer financial assistance to families who have suffered accidental death or permanent disability due to stray animals, including dog bites. However, this scheme covers only those families with an annual income below ₹1.80 lakh. A health officer from the MC informed that around 2,000 dogs were sterilised last year at the Sukhdarshanpur village centre. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes, costing ₹1,500 per dog for sterilisation, are outsourced to firms responsible for catching and releasing the dogs at the same location post-procedure. Experts suggest that public affection and feeding of street dogs inadvertently contribute to their increased numbers as they tend to settle and multiply in those areas. Colonel SK Datta (retired), RWA president of Sector 12, emphasised the difficulty for residents to use parks and even roads due to the escalating stray dog presence, making carrying a stick a 'necessary' precaution.
Hans India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Chennai corporation to launch vaccination, sterilisation drive for stray dogs after five year gap
After a five-year hiatus, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is gearing up to launch a large-scale campaign to vaccinate and sterilise over 1.80 lakh stray dogs across all 200 city divisions. The renewed initiative comes in the wake of mounting public complaints and rising incidents of stray dog attacks in the city. The last such campaign was carried out in 2020. Since then, the GCC has faced increasing criticism for failing to address the growing stray dog population and the associated public safety concerns. 'The planning is almost complete, and payments have already been made for procuring vaccines and essential drugs needed for the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes,' said J. Kamal Hussain, Veterinary Officer of the GCC. 'We will outsource the manpower required to capture and vaccinate the dogs. The campaign will begin within a month.' According to official data, Chennai recorded 31,000 dog bite cases in 2023, and this year, around 2,500 new cases are being reported each month. 'Vaccination and sterilisation remain our only effective tools to prevent such incidents. Dogs suffering from other diseases or parasite infections will also be treated,' Hussain added. The issue was also raised in a recent council meeting, where opposition AIADMK councillors criticised the administration's handling of the situation. 'The State machinery is behaving like a sleeping giant. Chennai is falling behind other Indian cities in controlling its stray dog population,' said J. John, AIADMK councillor from Ward 84. 'In areas like East Avenue Road, Korattur Station Road, and Bajanai Koil Street, stray dogs are seen in large numbers. Of every ten dogs, the civic body manages to catch only two,' the councillor said. Residents from areas such as Tirumalai Nagar in Kolathur echoed similar concerns. 'Women and children are afraid to even walk on the streets,' said D. Neelakannan, president of the Tamil Nadu Alliance of Residents Welfare Associations. 'ABC and ARV initiatives should be conducted frequently and without delay.' A resident of Janakiram Colony in Arumbakkam highlighted the risks faced by two-wheeler riders. 'At night, dogs chase the headlights of vehicles, startling unsuspecting riders. Many now avoid interior roads as a precaution.' However, animal rights activists urged a more nuanced understanding of the issue. 'No dog attacks without provocation,' said one activist. 'The solution lies in regular and sustained vaccination and sterilisation drives. The real question is whether these are being implemented consistently,' the activist said. Experts also stressed the need for scientific studies on canine behaviour. 'Dogs are social but territorial animals. The government must allocate funding for behavioural studies and strengthen ongoing ABC and ARV programmes,' the activist added. With plans now in motion, Chennai residents are hopeful that the upcoming campaign will offer a sustainable solution to the city's stray dog menace.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Bites up, but dog count dips in corpn survey
Madurai: Amid growing complaints of stray dog menace, and dog bite casing hitting a seven-year high in the city, the latest scientific census by Madurai corporation has pegged stray dog population at 38,348, significantly lower than previous estimates. An RTI reply had in 2021 placed the number at 53,826 in 2020, while a 2012 survey had recorded 47,573 dogs. Dog bite cases within corporation limits reached 14,130 by Nov 2024, the highest since 2018, pointing to the urgent need for effective stray management. Corporation officials, however, insist that the March 2025 enumeration is the most accurate to date, as it was conducted using scientific methods in collaboration with Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) and animal welfare NGO Seeshah's Kennel Foundation. The new figure for Madurai is also lower than that of Trichy corporation, which recently published a 2025 survey placing its stray dog population at 43,767. City health officer (CHO) P Indhira told TOI that Madurai's survey was carried out in all 100 wards covering five city zones. The initial groundwork and mapping were done between March 5 and 14, after which 200 student volunteers and corporation staff were trained for field enumeration. From March 17 to 23, around 300 surveys were conducted, with data collected from an average of 31% of roads in each ward. The methodology included sampling, grid mapping, training of enumerators, and multi-stage data collection. "We have done a proper survey and this is the most scientific survey. The dog count may have decreased after Covid pandemic due to decrease in number of feeders," said the demographic breakdown revealed that 15% of the dogs were puppies (under three months), and 85% adults. Among the adults, 83% were aged over one year, and 17% were juveniles between 4 and 11 months. Male dogs accounted for 65% of the population and females, 35%, with 36% of the female dogs observed to be lactating. About 83% of the stray dogs were found to be healthy, while the remaining 17% suffered from injuries, skin infections, or other visible corporation has now announced plans to intensify sterilization and population control efforts at hotspots. Officials say the data will guide the future rollout of Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes across the city.
