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Man's worst foe
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The stray dog population in India is increasing day by day and is currently estimated to be 25 million. The dubious distinction of being the `stray dog's paradise' undoubtedly goes to India.
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The Dog, they say, is Man's best friend. It loves you better than your most trusted ally. It guards you better than the black cat. But the domestic dog, which enjoys the comfort of your sofa, belongs to a negligible minority in the world dog population that is ruled by the street dog. The street dog rules the dustbin, the drainage, and the garbage pile, ... and is not exactly Man's best friend.
The stray dog population in India is increasing day by day, and is currently estimated to be 25 million. The dubious distinction of being the `stray dog's paradise' undoubtedly goes to India.
Rabies is India's bane.
The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that about 35000 people die of rabies in India every year, which accounts for about 81 per cent of global deaths. All rabies patients will die, and so far, there are no reported cases of survival.
"No other place in the world has so many rabies deaths," says Dr Sivasankaran, Cardiologist, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. In India, nearly 96 per cent of rabies result from stray dog bites.
"Recently, two newborns were attacked and killed by stray dogs. In another incident, a stray dog killed one old person. It is a shame for any civilized society," says Dr Sivasankaran. "The only solution is the destruction of the entire stray dog population," he adds.
In case of dog bite, the wound should be cleaned with soap and water. Every stray dog bite needs anti-rabies vaccination, as there is no treatment for rabies. The full course of vaccination costs from Rs.1500 to Rs.5000, depending on the severity of the bite. The patients should take antibiotics, tetanus toxoid and other measures to prevent wound infection. "There is a higher chance of wound infection, if antibiotics are not taken," says Dr Sreekumaran, surgeon, Taluk hospital, Nedumangad.
The Central Social Welfare Ministry has banned the killing of stray dogs. According to the data available with the WHO, about 10 people are dying due to rabies every day in India. Thiruvananthapuram reported three fold increase in dog bite during the past few months.
"I was regular on my morning jog," says Rajendran, a postgraduate student, "but now I am afraid to go out in the morning. There is a phenomenal increase in the stray dog population of the city."
The sale of anti-rabies vaccine in India is increasing. Multi-national companies are selling vaccine worth more than Rs.100 crore in India every year. This is definitely going to increase in the coming years because of the ban," says Peethambaran, a social worker.
About 3.5 million dog bites are registered every year in India. The government cannot give vaccine free of cost to all people. By 2006, the price of vaccine is expected to increase, thanks to the WTO patent rules.
"If stray dogs are not eliminated, the expenses related to the prevention of Rabies is likely to increase dramatically in India," says Peethambaran.
There are many ways to control rabies.
The most important method is to take immediate steps to destroy the entire stray dog population. The next step involves the control of habitat and access to food. The control of habitat and access to food from public garbage containers is an effective biological measure. The size of stray dog population is determined by the availability of food. This approach is, however, not very effective in cities because of the inefficient system of solid waste disposal.
Many stray dogs, in the slum areas of the city, are fed and looked after by the locals. These people almost always refuse to take the responsibility for these dogs. "The Government should implement a license scheme with a suitable fee for dog ownership. The owner should take the responsibility of immunising these licensed dogs," says Peethambaran.
The mass vaccination of dogs is also a solution, but it is impossible to achieve this, feel experts.
"A single rabid dog is capable of biting a large number of people and animals within an area of 40 km. Cats can also be a source of infection.
A single rabid dog is capable of spreading rabies to other dogs in the whole area.
"Stray dogs are a nightmare to two-wheeler users.
Many traffic accidents are caused by these wandering dogs," says Vinod Kumar, a shop owner. Stray dogs are also a threat to the tourists. "Many tourists are afraid to go out during the night. The stray dogs have now become a threat to tourism in Kerala," says Joseph, a tour operator.
DR. K. SANDEEP
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