CCpur rabies case earns epidemic tag Dog-bite figure likely to climb
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, January 14 2015: Cases of rabies and dog-bite cases in Churachandpur today assumed a complete over haul in its management as the State Health Director visited the district and duly directed health officials to tackle the situation on an 'epidemic' scale.

The Health Director, Dr O Ibomcha along with the State Epidemiologist Sashi Mangang and several other officials brought a hundred more doses of anti-rabies vaccine to supplement the existing stock while also directing an overhaul on the way local officials treat dog-bite patients.

A double dose of vaccine on the first day, which is the norm in epidemic condition, to be followed up on the 7th and 21st day with one dose each was instructed to replace the existing practice of administering single dose each on day zero, 3rd, 7th, and 14th day.

Seeking information on the cases, the areas impacted the most and the process of treatment, the Director who claimed he had not received any formal report so far but learnt about the gravity of the situation through news reports was visibly upset with the local officials.

He noted that it would require much more dedicated efforts from all concerned to effectively tackle the situation.

The visiting officials while instructing the local health officials to administer all doses of anti-rabies vaccine free of cost to dog-bite patients also told them to take the message of the need for all people exposed to dog-bite or any other animals such as cat or rat to get vaccinated and that the vaccine is available free of cost immediately by announcing it through the PA systems.

The hospital authorities were told to maintain a separate dog-bite cell complete with a separate register, tracking patients on the doses they receive and to administer vaccine then and there.

Until today it was the District Immunisation Office located on a separate block that administered the vaccine.

When asked about the situation, the Health Director said it is not 'very serious' but when queried why he used the term 'epidemic,' the State Epidemiologist clarified that it should for now be dubbed as an 'outbreak', although it literally was already an epidemic, as the latter needs an official declaration to officially label it.

They have nevertheless disclosed that the formal declaration will take shape once it receives an official report from the district officials.

With officials from Imphal fine-tuning the battle, the number of dog-bite cases can climb as they have stressed the need to vaccinate everyone exposed to dog-bite as it has been learnt that the incubation (growth) period ranges from 3 days to 7 years.

If the message is taken well and clear to the public, it is deemed to climb as an attending scribe who had lost his 2 year old son in November to rabies and covering the visit realized that he could well be exposed but is still in the incubation period as the dog that bit his son had bitten him, his daughter and spouse as well.

'I should immediately take my family as well,' he said after receiving his double doses.

The scribe was the second patient, among the four cases reported today taking the tally to 267 .

The immunisation office has as well reported that 30 people have been vaccinated today while the number of dog vaccinated today stands at 523 .

To take their mass vaccination drive closer to dog owners, the Veterinary Department has planned a free vaccination camp at Salbung, Tuibuong, Muolvaiphei, and Pearsonmun from 11am tomorrow.

As was instructed, the local Health Department has set up a special cell at the district hospital which will be open 24x7.They have also declared that 260 doses of anti-rabies vaccine, after administering 30 doses today, are in stock.

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