Anti-rabies shots must follow immediately after dog bite: Vets

Trichy: Rabies vaccination camps were organized at seven places in Trichy district on Monday to mark World Rabies Day. The camps held witnessed 410 pet dogs and 12 pet cats being brought by 399 animal owners. Veterinarians said anti-rabies vaccine should be taken at once if bitten by unimmunized dogs or cats.

The camp held at government veterinary poly-clinic at Palakkarai inaugurated by Trichy collector S Sivarasu saw 102 owners coming with 105 pet dogs and 12 cats for the vaccination. Department of animal husbandry organized the camp at five more places – government veterinary hospitals in Thiruverumbur and Lalgudi, veterinary dispensaries at Subramaniapuram, Srirangam, Musiri and Thiruvellarai in the district.

Veterinary clinician Dr R Magesh, who was in-charge of the camp at Palakkarai, said Monday’s turnout was good. For prevention of rabies, there should be compulsory vaccination once a year. Animal lovers are mostly aware of the vaccination for their pets, he said. Stating that India records around 20,000 fatalities of humans due to rabies every year, Magesh said that India accounted for 36 % of deaths due to rabies worldwide.

“The saliva of unimmunized dogs and cats can infect a human when it comes in contact with any wound. Most of the people ignore the bite without taking the human deployed cell vaccine (HDCV) available at government hospitals. If a person suffers a bite from stray dogs suspected to be unimmunized and un-vaccinated, they should wash the surface with running water and visit the nearest health centre and take the vaccine for six days,” said Magesh.


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