Govt spends Rs 35,000 for person:

An expensive dog bite

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Sri Lankan Government is compelled to spend Rs.35,000 every time a dog bites a person. Annually over 50 persons die in Sri Lanka of rabies. People die from rabies because of negligence, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman annually the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spends Rs. 500 million to treat dog bites and another Rs 167 million to control the stray dog population. Annually there are 400,000 dog bites reported from Sri Lanka. The Ministry runs 25 Rabies Control Units countrywide.

Another 200 state hospitals of the country offer free care and treatment to the public and domestic dogs including anti rabies injection.

Last year (2009) the Ministry spent Rs.162 million on sterilizing and vaccinating dogs. Awareness raising programs conducted for the public were also included in the project.

But it seems all the efforts of the authorities and officials do not bring much positive results because still some people do not take care of their dogs and do not seek medical treatment on time when a dog bites.

The Ministry request the public to be responsible dog owners and act promptly and in a responsible manner when a domestic or stray dog bites a human being.

In Sri Lanka rabies is caused mainly through dog bites but rabies can be contacted through some other animals such as cats, giant squirrels, monkeys, rats and bats.

Any warm-blooded animal may become infected with the rabies virus.