Rise in cases of dog bites,doctors say need more awareness

On World Rabies Day,which is observed on September 28,KEM Hospital organised a rally to spread awareness about the disease. “We get four to five cases of dog bites daily. Ignorance and misconception about dog bites are compounding the issue,” said Dr R R Shinde,head of preventive and social medicine department. “Most people are unaware about the consequences. They are also unaware about the vaccination facilities available and choose to wait for the wound to heal,which turns fatal,” he added. Civic-run Nair and JJ hospitals also receive four cases of dog bites on an average every day in their casualty departments.

Doctors believe the common man lacks awareness about the dosage of anti-rabies vaccination. “After bitten by a dog bite,the patient is supposed to take a vaccine shot five times over one month. However,many times,they discontinue after three shots and become susceptible again,” said Shinde. In June this year,two patients had slipped into coma because they had not completed their vaccination dosage. Anti-rabies vaccinations are provided free of cost at all BMC hospitals,while private hospitals charge Rs 250.

“While all the bites are not fatal,if the dog is rabid and has no t been vaccinated,chances of death of the patient are as high as 95 per cent. People should take this seriously,especially in a city like Mumbai where stray dogs are a menace,” said Dr Badri Patnaik,head of clinical development of vaccines at the Human Biologicals Institute.