Rabies cases down to five per year in Chennai

[Guest guest]

The following news report appeared in the Deccan Chronicle, Chennai edition

on June 27, 2006.

 

Rabies cases down to 5 per year in city

 

By Our Correspondent

 

Chennai, June 26: " Since 1996, instances of rabies in humans have reduced

from 120 to five a year in Chennai " said Dr. K. Manivasan, Joint

Commissioner (Health), Chennai Corporation here on Monday.

 

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The above statement was made at a workshop " Roadmap to Rabies-Free India "

organised by the Animal Welfare Board of India, Government of India. The

workshop was attended by representatives from animal welfare groups;

representatives from municipal bodies; government officials; veterinarians;

media persons etc.

 

Dr. V. N. Appaji Rao, Vice Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India

presented a well documented study on the incidence of rabies in pet dogs as

recorded at the largest government veterinary hospital for the 25 years,

1980 to 2005. It studied the incidence over two periods - the first from

1980 to 1995 when the municipality was killing dogs as the method of choice

of rabies control and the second period from 1996 to 2005 after the killing

was replaced by spay/vaccinate and return. The results showed a rapid

distinct downtrend after 1996 and was further proof, if any were needed,

that Animal Birth Control / Vaccination is the only sensible way to go to

control the street dog population and rabies.

 

To a few references about the apparent lower costs of killing compared to an

ABC programme, Dr. Appaji Rao said: " Forget about killing. It is illegal and

does not work. Those who kill will be prosecuted and punished " .

 

The Madurai municipality deserves to be congratulated for having set up its

own surgery and kennels to carry out the programme at its own expense.

 

S. Chinny Krishna