Veterinary Director calls for anti-rabies shots
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 07 2025: Taking due note of the outbreak of rabies in some areas of Churachandpur district, top Veterinary officers including Joint Directors and Deputy Directors of different districts held a meeting at Veterinary Complex, Sanjenthong today and deliberated on several precautionary and control measures.

Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services Director RK Khogendrajit who chaired the meeting said that rabies is 100 per cent preventable.

If dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies in time, the disease can never get transmitted to human beings, he said.

People need not be overly panicky about the reports of the outbreak of rabies in Churachandpur.

Moreover, all dog bite victims will not necessarily get infected by rabies, Khogendrajit said.

Rabies outbreak is reported every year in the months of April, May and June as the weather gets warmer, he said.

Following reports of rabies infected dogs biting people at some places of Churachandpur, concerned officials have been instructed to intensify the free anti-rabies vaccination programme.

The Veterinary Department has opened a control room with telephone number 8837416696 for Churachandpur district in connection with the outbreak of rabies, the Director said.

Moreover, a rapid response team has also been constituted under the Joint Director, Veterinary Department, Churachandpur, he said.

He said that all Veterinary officers and field staff have been instructed to remain alert.

Appealing to all the people not to ever allow their pet dogs mingle with stray dogs, Khogendrajit also urged all dog owners not to let loose their dogs on streets as far as possible.

He further appealed to interested local clubs, organisations and CSOs to contact Joint Directors concerned if they wish to organise mass, free anti-rabies vaccination programmes.

Khogendrajit said that rabies control and containment measures must be taken up jointly by the Veterinary Department, local clubs and CSOs.

Veterinary Joint Director, Churachandpur Boney Verna was also present at the press meet.

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