Rising rabies incidents dog city

HYDERABAD: With the dog menace increasing, the number of people being administered anti-rabies vaccine as well as people succumbing to the disease has been on a steady increase during the last five years, according to statistics available with the Institute of Preventive Medicine here.In 1997-98, about 46,430 anti-rabies shots were given, while in 1998-99, about 42,940 vaccines were given.The year 1999-2000 saw 45,797 victims being administered the vaccine, while 45,948 were given the vaccine in 2000-2001.In 2001-2002, the number was 47,416, while from April to September this year, 27,256 people were already given anti-rabies shots. "About 70 per cent of the cases that come to IPM for anti-rabies vaccine are children. Out of these, just about two to three per cent are bites by pet dogs," said a senior doctor at the IPM.The number of people who have succumbed to rabies in 1997 were 15, in 1998 (20), 1999 (34), 2000 (35), and 2001 (36). This year, from April, as many as 16 people have died due to rabies.The anti-rabies shot is given for seven to ten days, plus two booster doses, depending on the number of bites, place of wound, type of animal, and whether the victim is an adult or a child."Even if 80 per cent of the stray dogs are sterilised, the incidence of rabies will come down over the next few years," said the IPM doctor.Incidentally, the city is home to a little more than two lakh stray dogs, which is more than the number of children enrolled in government schools in the entire state — 83,335.In an incident, about two months ago, a scooterist sustained a head injury and died in Gachibowli due to a stray dog crossing the road at night. The dog ran across the road suddenly, and when the scooterist instantly applied brakes so as not to hit the dog, his scooter skid, resulting in a head injury.