34 rabies cases this year

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Thirty four rabies cases have been reported from Sri Lanka up to September this year while only 56 rabies cases were reported in 2007, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said the Ministry spent Rs. 93 million during the last eight months for rabies control projects implemented under the National Rabies Control Programme. The highest number of rabies cases reported in 2007 were from Wayamba (11) and North-East provinces (11) in 2007.

Only one rabies case was reported from Uva Province the same year.

The Ministry has planned to allocate Rs. 16 million for each Province for rabies control in 2009 and a three-wheeler will be provided to every province to carry out vaccination programmes.

The WHO will fund this programme. "Earlier, when a dog bit a victim, he had to travel to Colombo for medical examination but the Ministry has made available these facilities for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern Provinces. As a result the victim does not need to travel to Colombo."

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has implemented chemical and surgical methods to control the stray dog population in Sri Lanka. Over 20,454 operations have been conducted so far while 54,316 dogs have been sterilised.

The Ministry never destroy dogs as a solution for rabies or to control stray dogs, the spokesman said.

The Ministry has organised a Rabies Control Week from September 28 under the theme `working together to make rabies history'. Over 55,000 people from all over the world die annually due to rabies.