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Kathmandu Friday November 09, 2001 Kartik 24, 2058.
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Rabies cases on the rise
KATHMANDU, Nov 8 (PR) - Due to the involvement
of non-technical practitioners in injecting anti-rabies vaccine to four-footed animals,
especially dogs, the cases of rabies is rising at an alarming proportion, veterinary
doctors say.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals(SPCA), Nepal, organised a one-day free veterinary health check-up and vaccine
campaign programme to over two hundred four-footed animals for controlling the spread of
rabies.
Dr Govinda Tandon, Chairman of SPCA Nepal, says,
"The awareness progammes, voluntary vaccination services, educating people,including
school children, about rabies, its precautions and first-aid services are some of the most
important measures that should be brought into practice.
He said the government should immediately
implement the Veterinary Health Act and strictly check all the inhumane acts against
animals and exercise the punishment given by the law.
Ramesh Sharma(name changed), 40,a government
inspector and a local resident of Pashupati Gaushala, said, "There are more than two
hundred stray dogs,and cows disturbing the smooth flow of transport and even the Kathmandu
Municipality is facing difficulty to control its increasing number."
He further said, the concerned authorities
should now come forward with new plans like sterilisation instead of killing them by
giving poison.
Similarly, Pradeep Shrestha,a local, says,
"After I came to know how deadly the disease could be, I became very conscious about
the health of my children as they enjoy playing with dogs. And every parent who has pets
at home should take precaution.
Dr Shree Ram Adhikary, Secretary General of SPCA
Nepal, says, "Rabies is an infectious disease and it can be infected if animal saliva
or blood comes in contact with open wound of human beings.
Dr Adikary further adds that anti-rabies
vaccines, pre- bite and post-bite vaccines for animals, made in the country, can be
affordable but those for human beings cost more than Rs 25 thousand, depending on its
exported quality.
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