(IN): NGO begins vaccination of city street dogs

September 5, 2007

NGO begins vaccination of city street dogs

* By A City Correspondent

GUWAHATI, Sept 4 – In an effort to prevent transmission of rabies to human

beings and livestock, Early Birds, a non-governmental organisation working

for animal welfare and wildlife protection has started its anti-rabies

vaccination of street dogs in the city.

According to president of the organization Moloy Baruah, the number of stray

dogs was increasing in the city, and there was need to vaccinate these

canines to ensure safety to the citizens.

" Rabies is a preventable disease, but in India it is transmitted by stray

dogs (about 98 per cent) to humans and livestock, " said Baruah, adding that

a holistic approach to the issue could destroy the virus in stray dog

population.

Baruah said that an intensive mass vaccination (about 80 per cent) to

establish herd immunity, combined with mass sterilisation of stray

dogs(about 80 per cent) to control multiplication, repeated annual booster

immunisation of all the owned and stray/community dogs will ensure

elimination of rabies virus among dogs.

" More than 99 per cent of all human rabies deaths occur in the developing

world (Asia ,Africa). In Asia maximum deaths are from India. Globally 55000

people die due to rabies of which 44000 (80%) are from India, " said Baruah.

As per reports, post-exposure prophylaxis costs India $563 million or Rs

2533.50 crore. It may be mentioned here that Early Birds has been perusing

this stray dog vaccination programme since 1999 when it was launched inside

the State Zoo premises. As a part of this drive a total no of 27

community/pet dogs were vaccinated at Chunchali and Kanchan nagar area of

greater Noonmati September 2, 2006.

Recently the organization held a free cattle vaccination programme at

Hazongbori village on outskirts of the city.

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