Hydrophobia claims 49

Nadira Gunatilleke

*55 persons die of hydrophobia annually

*400,000 dog bites annually

Forty nine persons have died of hydrophobia this year while 2009 also recorded a similar number of deaths, Medical Research Institute (MRI) statistics revealed.

MRI statistics also revealed that 699 animals were found positive for rabies last year.

Among them 579 were dogs, 57 cats, 18 ruminants and three mongoose. Meanwhile, 38 persons died of hydrophobia last year.

The statistics were released by Dr. Omala Wimalaratne during the 111th anniversary of the MRI yesterday.

Meanwhile, Health Ministry sources said that the government spends Rs.35,000 every time a dog bites a person.

“Annually 55 persons die of hydrophobia in Sri Lanka and half of them are below the age of 15,” he said.

The Health Ministry spends Rs 500 million annually to treat dog bite victims while annually there are 400,000 dog bites reported in Sri Lanka, the spokesman said.

“The ministry has 25 Rabies Control Units countrywide,” he said.

“Another 200 State hospitals offer free care and treatment for the public and domestic dogs including the anti-rabies injection. The most affected districts are Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Jaffna.

“Hambantota and Polonnaruwa districts have not reported a single rabies case,” the spokesman said.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/08/06/news26.asp