Fifty rabies deaths annually

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Fifty deaths following rabies are reported in Sri Lanka annually and half of the victims are below the age of 15, Public Health, Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Palitha Maheepala said.

Dr. Maheepala said 109 persons died of rabies in 2000. Addressing a press conference, he said the Ministry sterilized over 200,000 dogs in 2009 at a cost of Rs. 200 million. Out of this, there were 100,000 stray dogs. This number was 120,000 in 2008.

The dog population was controlled by destroying them until 2005, but in 2005, the Government took a policy decision not to destroy dogs, Dr. Maheepala said.

The most affected districts are Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Jaffna. Not a single rabies case was reported from Hambantota and Polonnaruwa districts. This shows how the people take care of dogs in different areas, he said.

Rabies can spread mainly through dogs and the percentage is 82.

It can spread through cats (five percent) and other wild animals (two percent). Whenever a dog bites, the wound should be washed cleaned with soap for about 10 minutes and medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible. The details of the dog should be provided at the same time.

The dog should be observed thereafter. The incubation period for rabies is three weeks to three months.