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Alarming rise in dog bites
It is uncommon for doctors to treat so many dog bite cases during the monsoon. It is only in summer that one usually witnesses a rise in dog bite cases. This year, however, there are at least 40-50 dog bite cases reported at the Fever Hospital on a daily basis.
Hyderabad: It is uncommon for doctors to treat so many dog bite cases during the monsoon. It is only in summer that one usually witnesses a rise in dog bite cases. This year, however, there are at least 40-50 dog bite cases reported at the Fever Hospital on a daily basis.
In the last four days, out of 3,287 number of patients, as many as 142 were treated for dog bite. “Though dog bite cases are more in summer, nevertheless, canine behaviour cannot be predicted. This is part of the larger issue of the burgeoning dog population and the sterilisation programme. While the government is doing its bit, there needs to be a revamped campaign,” says Ratna Lekha, RMO of Fever Hospital.
Though the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been conducting the vaccination programme, residents, especially in slums, said the programme is being carried out only in posh colonies. “There are close to 50 dogs in our area. Though we have complained several times, no action has been taken.
It has become impossible to sleep at night as they keep on howling,” said Sriram, a resident of Kavadiguda. On Tuesday, there were at least five dog bite cases from Chotuppal. Ram, a parent said a rabid dog bit 13 children. “On an average 800-900 dog bite cases are treated each month at the hospital and the number crosses 10,000 a year,” said Dr Sunil of Fever Hospital.
The anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) is given at Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) and immunoglobulin is administered at Fever Hospital. This is another issue that patients complain about. Rahman, a patient, said both are necessary and patients have to make trips to both the places. ARV is given in five doses from 0 day (technical term for the day of the bite), 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day, and immunoglobulin is administered once.
On occasions when ARV is not available at the district headquarters, people head to IPM and Fever Hospital resulting in huge footfalls. A nurse at Fever Hospital on condition of anonymity said, “There is no increase in the staff but we are expected to treat all the patients. The government should make sure that enough medicines are available at the districts.” According to estimates there are more than three lakh dogs in the city.
By: T P Venu
