Owners advised to vaccinate pets
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 07 2022:
Following the surge in incidents of dog bites at different parts of the state, National Health Mission (NHM), state mission director Dr Somorjit Ningombam has issued an advisory asking public to ensure vaccination of their pets to protect them from rabies.
In the advisory, Dr Somorjit stated that though rabies is 100 per cent fatal, timely vaccination can save lives.
Victims should wash the bite wound with water and soap and get anti-rabies vaccination from the nearest health centre.
Do not put faith on traditional healers as they cannot save lives, it cautioned.
The advisory continued that the biting dog/ cat must be observed for 10 to 15 days and the bite victims should immediately consult doctor/hospital for anti-rabies treatment without delay and complete course of treatment as advised by doctors.
Meanwhile, Animal Welfare Board of India has also issued an advisory to the states in connection with stray dogs and pet dogs mentioning that there have been increasing reports of ill-treatment of dogs with recent increase of incidents of injury and death by dog bites in various parts of the nation.
The Board in its circular issued on May 17 asked the states to implement adoption of community animal standard protocol to prevent such incidents.
It also issued guidelines on August 17 for use of muzzle on dogs and care of community dogs, followed by a similar directive on October 10 to prevent killing of dogs and harassment of stray dogs.