Cabinet wakes up to rabies menace, at last
Departments asked to take up counter measures
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 19 2015: After more than 10 people have been killed by rabies since October last year, the State Cabinet has finally instructed all departments concerned to take up necessary counter measures on a war footing.

A Cabinet meeting held this morning with Chief Minister O Ibobi in the chair deliberated at length on the outbreak of rabies and death of scores of people in Churachandpur district and other parts of the State.

Taking serious note of the rising fatality, the State Cabinet directed the department concerned to procure and stock adequate doses of ani-rabies vaccine as a matter of urgency.

The Cabinet asked the Veterinary Department to make a survey on the number of stray dogs found in the State.

The Cabinet meeting also decided to launch massive anti-rabies vaccination programmes all over the State apart from instructing Veterinary Department to tie up with district administrations in their efforts to contain and control the menace of rabies.

Meanwhile the Chief Secy instructed the Thoubal DC to ensure that all dogs found within Thoubal district are put in chain and no dog is let loose on the streets.

On the other hand.

Health and National Health Mission (NHM) Director Dr O Ibomcha has claimed that stringent measures have been initiated to control the outbreak of suspected rabies and the concomitant deaths.

Results of the laboratory tests done to ascertain whether the recent deaths were caused by rabies are being awaited.

Speaking to media persons at his office this afternoon in the backdrop of the death of many people in Churachandpur -district after they were bitten by dogs, Dr Ibomcha said that laboratory tests on dogs which were killed after they had bitten people have confirmed that they were infected by rabies but it is not yet clear whether all those, people who died after they were bitten by dogs were infected by rabies.

Till date, 13 people have died after they were bitten by dogs.

Even if a man is bitten by a dog, 80 per cent protection can be ensured if the body part bitten by a dog or cat is washed properly.

He said that anti-rabies vaccines have been stocked abundantly in the Health Department.

In view of the extensive anti-rabies vaccination drive being carried out by the department, cases of rabies infection would certainly decline in the coming days, Dr Ibomcha exuded adding that there is not much rise in the number of suspected rabies cases.

Regarding the news report about the death of a person at Itham Moirang Purel due to a dog bite, Dr Ibomcha said that he went to Andro today but no official record about the death of any person after dog bite could be found.

At present, there are 1100 anti-rabies vaccine doses with the department.

Moreover, purchase order for 2000 anti-rabies doses has been sent to Delhi.

So far, 820 anti-rabies vaccine doses have been issued to Churachandpur, 110 to Thoubal, 10 to Chandel and 30 to Tamenglong, Dr Ibomcha added.

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