Lamka, Dec 31: As increasing cases of alleged fatal dog bites created ripples across all sections of the society, the man’s best friend is on the verge of ruining his master’s excitement for New Year with the district administration issuing orders to keep all pet animals vaccinated and confined, while the number of people seeking dog-bite related vaccination at the District Immunisation Office reached an alarming proportion.
The latest report of fatality, according to sources, comes hours after the district administration’s order which has authorized the police to collect and capture any pet animals that stray outside their master’s home or compound.
A youth at New Lamka who was reportedly bitten by a dog some months back expired last night. He is said to have shown symptoms suspected to be that of rabies.
Incidentally, the Young Paite Association, New Lamka block has also announced the imposition of a complete ban on pet animals particularly dogs across its 11 units and set a deadline of January 5 for conformation, warning all stray dogs seen after that day will be slaughtered.
An order issued by Lunminthang Haokip, District Magistrate, Churachand- pur said that as there are cases of death due to dog-bite, dog or pet keepers are directed to administer vaccination against rabies disease at District Vety Office during office hours immediately and to obtain vaccination certificate.
Cases of dog-bite deaths had been doing the round for quite some time now, but the pace has seen a marked increase since the onset of winter. In most of the cases the bitten persons were left untreated and was way too late to treat them when the symptoms started appearing.
Meanwhile, data obtained from the District Immunisation Office has revealed that over 490 people with cases of dog-bite have approached the office for vaccination within four months. The figure for Monday alone stood at 28.
Churachandpur has witnessed a rapid surge in the number of domesticated dogs in the past few months primarily to contain the widespread cases of burglary. It may have succeeded in a sense but collateral damage has been immense as the dog-bite fatality, though there was no official figure, is believed to have crossed the dozen figures as of today.
