(IN)Monkey bites in New Delhi

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Over 100 Delhiites bitten by monkeys everyday

Neelam Pandey New Delhi

 

On an average Rs 2 lakh is spent on vaccination against monkey bites in the

capital everyday. According to MCD officials, there are over 100 cases of

monkey bite in the capital every day against the Delhi government's figure

of X(ILLEGIBLE in the hard copy of the newspaper) till September this year.

" We have information about the MCD area only-that includes all the MCD

hospitals and dispensaries . However, the NDMC hospitals and private

hospitals too deal with simian attack cases. Hence, the figure is bound to

reach on an average 100 or even more, " said a senior MCD official.

Iqbal Malik, director of Vatavaran, an NGO, argued that the exact figure

might even exceed 100. " If you take all kinds of monkey bites - from deep

bites to minor scratches - the number may go beyond 100 a day. However, no

proper record is maintained. As monkeys cannot be kept under constant

surveillance, one should take precautionary measures by getting the

anti-rabies vaccination in case of an attack. The bites can cause in

different types of diseases, including skin and digestive ailments, " Iqbal

said.

" Rhesus monkeys, which are found in North India, are more violent than

Bonnet monkeys and attack you even at the slightest provocation, " Iqbal

added.

As monkey bites can result in rabies, which can eventually kill a person,

anti-rabies vaccination is a must do. One injection costs around Rs.300. " A

total of six injections are to be administered to a patient out of which the

first one is given on the day of the attack, the second one on the third

day, the third one on the seventh day, fourth after 15 days, fifth is given

after one month and the last one is given after three months, " said Dr Anil

Kumar Bansal, former president of the Delhi Medical Association.

Normally doctors advise the victims to complete the course of medication to

be on the safer side. " One shot costs nearly Rs250-300 and hence the total

cost will be around Rs.1800, " added Bansal.

Till date the civic authority has caught 1,200 monkeys. These monkeys were

then shifted to Bhatti Mines.

The monkey menace is at its worst in the areas of Lutyens's Delhi,

Patparganj, Anand Vihar, Mehrauli, Kamla Nagar, Hanuman Mandir, Ridge areas,

Kashmiri Gate, among others.