Maneka concerned about rabies outbreak in CCpur
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 16 2015 : The office of Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Chairperson of PFA India and Union Cabinet Minister of Women and Child development has reportedly spoken with Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur yesterday regarding the rabies outbreak in the district.

According to a statement released by L.Biswajeet Meitei, who is the Managing Trustee of People for Animals, Manipur, a joint team led by Ak.

Pream, Chairperson of People for Animals Manipur and consisting of its members, dog trainers led by Thangjam Hollen(Training officer) and Hanjabam Tony (Assistant trainer) from Hollen Dog Training Centre, Imphal East and members of Manipur Dog Lovers Club will go to Churachandpur tomorrow morning.

The team will assist the district administration and concerned department in controlling the outbreak.

A local team head by one Phungkhansiam of Churachanpur, a member of PFA Manipur will also help the team.

PFA deeply condoled the loss of human lives due to rabies in Churachandpur.

It is true that animal life is not more valuable than human life but we shouldn't forget that it is we the human behind such outbreak, Biswajeet said.

Maintaining that most of the dog owners in Manipur neglected to vaccinate their dogs, Biswajeet noted that this is the main reason behind such outbreak.

PFA is quite agreed with the comments of Director of Veterinary and Animal husbandry Dept.

The dog might have acquired the infection from wild animals.

PFA got reports of hunting at Churachandpur using dogs before, the Managing Trustee said and explained that every dog bite doesn't lead to rabies infection and every dog who bites is not rabid.

Biswajeet further observed that mass killing of dogs can never be a solution to such outbreak; pre exposure vaccination is the only solution.

Killing of dog looks like a solution but it is temporary, the people will again acquire new dogs as their fear for rabies disappeared by time.

And again the newly acquired dog can put up another outbreak.

So vaccination is the only solution.

Our dog doesn't get the infection willingly nor do they turn rabid by choice.

We should remember that it is the same dog who serve us loyally all its life without any complain, demand or conditions.

PFA heard that dogs were being killed or slaughtered at other part of the state due to fear and social hysteria.

Food vendors and meat vendors are warn to stop selling dog meat as it is illegal and punishable.

It is appealed to general public to stop such cruel act and vaccinate their dogs, the statement of the Managing Trustee added.

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