About 631 dogs, both pets and strays, were vaccinated during the free mass vaccination campaigns in the Greater Shillong area.
The six day campaign was conducted by the District Joint Steering Committee on Rabies Elimination with an aim of eliminating dog-related rabies by 2030.
Dog bite cases are on the rise every year in the state with 5302 cases reported in 2022 and 9611 cases in 2023, an official statement said. Dog bite cases doubled in East Khasi Hills from 2,512 in 2022 to 5,085 last year, with 80 per cent of reported incidents being in urban areas.
The campaign was supported by the district administration, Health Department, Veterinary Department, Shillong Municipal Board, NGO for animal welfare HUFAN and the Dorbar Shnongs with the mission to achieve 70 per cent Anti Rabies vaccination coverage among dogs in a defined geographical area annually including sterilization of stray dogs.
A bite a scratch or a lick on an uncovered broken skin by a rabid dog can cause rabies disease in humans which infects the brain and the spinal cord and is 100 per cent fatal, the statement said.
Rabies though 100 per cent fatal is also 100 per cent preventable and the precautions to be taken in-case of dog bite, lick or scratch is to immediately wash the area with soap under running water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention at the nearest health facility for post exposure prophylaxis vaccine.
The suspected dog should not be killed but restrained and observed for 10 days and the concerned authorities need to be informed.
High risk individuals who are always in close contact with animals of unknown vaccination status need to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccine against rabies as a preventive measure.
