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Written By: Admin | Updated : September 12, 2013 11:14 AM IST
UK-based World Veterinary Service (WVS) has taken a step towards reducing the number of rabies cases in Madurai. The service plans to perform a massive rabies vaccination which includes 6000 dogs spread over an area of 100 wards. Slated to start on September second the campaign will run for eleven days in total. It will include trained animal handlers, dog catchers and veterinary doctors who will vaccinate stray dogs.
The WVS plans to monitor the programme for the next three years. They will place neck collars on the stray dogs and they will be marked with a special skin safe paint. Apart from that a mobile veterinary care unit will be pressed into service and four teams will carry out vaccination simultaneously in all the zones. The importance of dog sterilisation through Animal Birth Control Programme will also be stressed.
The team is currently aiming at vaccinating 6,000 dogs. But this number is subject to change if they have more vaccines available. The vaccination schedule has been prepared as per the area and the public has been asked to look out for dogs that have been left out of the programme, in order to complete the entire exercise.
What is rabies?
Rabies is a viral infection that is transmitted mainly through the saliva, the bite or scratch of an infected animal can lead to infection. Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not the only animals that spread rabies. All mammals like cats, cows, horses, monkeys and bats can carry the virus. Other animals like rats also can be infected by the virus, but usually die quickly and do not have the capability of spreading the disease. In the case of mammals, the virus has a long incubation period that allows them to spread the disease.
A person infected with the virus requires immediate medical attention,since the disease is totally incurable. Read more about the facts of rabies.
