Kozhikode: Thousands of people are falling prey to dog bites every year in the district, show the data available with the integrated disease surveillance project (IDSP), Kozhikode.
In July, 393 persons sought treatment at government hospitals of Kozhikode district. In June it was 382. The number of victims reached private hospitals multiplied manyfold.
The IDSP has a system to register all types of animal bite cases for which rabies vaccines were issued. The total animal bites including cat, dog and others in 2015 were 29,485 and this year by mid-August, they crossed 13,000.
The maximum number of dog bites reported this year was in March (660).
Though there was an attempt to implement the animal birth control (ABC), it failed to take off due to lack of funds.
The corporation had sterilised 159 dogs in May last year with the support of experts from Kerala Veterinary and Animal Husbandry University (KVASU), Pookode, Wayanad.
The experts came with a modern mobile surgery unit for animal sterilisation.
However, the city corporation is serious about the issue and is also under stress to implement the project as soon as possible.
Mayor Thottathil Raveendran told Deccan Chronicle that everything had been set for its implementation.
“An amount of Rs 50 lakh has been earmarked for constructing a building and other facilities”, he added.
