Mother and son succumb to rabies in Dimapur

Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 2 (EMN): In a delayed report, the district veterinary hospital Dimapur has informed that a mother and her son succumbed to rabies on June 10 and the 11th at Rilan village in Dimapur.

It was informed that the mother and son were diagnosed with rabies on June 9, 20 days after they were bitten by a dog, and the canine was already killed when the department went to collect sample.

To prevent the spread the deadly virus, the medical department had directed the Rilan villagers to confine and chain all the dogs in the village for 14 days observation.

On inspection by the team of the veterinary hospital Dimapur on June 24, all the dogs were kept secured and no unusual sign and symptoms were observed, veterinary surgeon Dr. KN Zubemo Humtsoe told Eastern Mirror.

As a precautionary measure, the department organised an anti vaccination camp at Rilan village on Friday, July 2 and around 150 dogs in the village were inoculated with anti rabies vaccine (ARV), he added.

Rabies cases were rare in the state but intensive awareness was needed as the viral disease causes fatality, the veterinary surgeon said, adding that it is also the responsibility of the pet owners to see that their pets are vaccinated against rabies to avoid fatalities.

He also noted that not only a dog bite but scratches from pets should be taken care of.