Sadar Hospital reports 52,669 dog bite cases in six months

Ranchi: A total of 52,669 dog bite cases were reported from Jan to June at Sadar Hospital here, raising concerns over the stray dog menace in the city.The hospital receives at least 200 dog bite patients daily, with children and elderly people accounting for a significant share of cases.

Doctors at the anti-rabies clinic said the steady influx reflects a rise in the number of stray dogs and the absence of an effective control mechanism.“On certain days, the number of dog bite cases rises to nearly 250. We registered 48 cases at the clinic on Friday alone. Many people also come with minor scratches or bites from vaccinated dogs, situations where anti-rabies vaccination is often not required. There is an urgent need to create public awareness about when medical intervention is necessary, while simultaneously taking effective measures to control the stray dog population,” said a doctor at the clinic, requesting anonymity.The Jharkhand chapter of National Health Mission (NHM) recently held a state-level meeting to prepare a road map for eliminating rabies caused by dog bites, in line with the Centre’s National Rabies Control Programme. It aims to formulate a state action plan for rabies elimination and achieve zero human deaths from the disease by 2030.State NHM director Shashi Prakash Jha directed officials to ensure availability of anti-rabies vaccines in all govt hospitals across the state. “All civil surgeons were directed to maintain a minimum of three months of buffer stocks of anti-rabies vaccines. They were directed to initiate procurement and place fresh orders as soon as stocks begin to decline so that patients do not face any shortage,” Jha added.The action plan will be prepared by this month and sent for review. The plan is expected to be finalised in Aug and launched on Sept 28 on World Rabies Day, officials said.