Only half of 400,000 dog bite victims seek treatment at hospitals

COLOMBO: Around 400,000 people annually become victims of dogs bites but only half seek treatment at hospitals, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry survey revealed.

The killing of stray-dogs was the method adopted for the prevention of rabies, but the Ministry has decided to control the dog population by sterilisation and administration of vaccines on around two million dogs in the country, the release said.

The number of people seeking treatment from Government hospitals for dog-bites is also reportedly on the increase in Anuradhapura, Colombo, Hambantota and Ampara districts.

The Health Ministry veterinary section has made arrangements to implement a mass-vaccination project for dogs in districts which are at a high risk.

The dogs' vaccination project was first launched in 1973 and around 400 people died of rabies during this period. Fifty persons died of rabies in 2005 while only 26 have died so far this year.

The Government spends about Rs. 325 million for rabies control and half of this amount is spent for drugs on persons bitten by dogs, Dr. G.A.L. Harischandra, Director General of the Veterinary Section, Ministry of Health said.

Meanwhile, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the Ministry will introduce a new strategy to eradicate rabies without killing stray dogs.