To improve surveillance of dog bite incidents and rabies cases, the Center has directed state governments to register cases of bites caused by stray dogs and domestic animals separately.
In an order dated March 7, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) wrote to the states, ordering them to provide quality data on animal bites from all public health centers, centers of community health, district hospitals and tertiary care facilities with the inclusion of specifics. details regarding dog bites caused by domestic and stray animals.
States were asked to avoid multiple entries of the same animal bite victims by keeping separate records for new and follow-up patients in the animal bite exposure registry.
The Centre’s order comes at a time when there have been several cases of mauling by stray dogs and dog bites from urban areas. Although there has been a substantial decline in dog bite cases since 2018, the cases are on the rise from 2022. Between 2022 and 2023, dog bite cases have increased by 21.8 lakh to 27.5 lakh, according to data presented by the Ministry of Health and Family. Welfare in Parliament. With 4.35 lakh cases, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of dog bite cases last year.
The government’s order also comes on the back of representations by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to the Union Health Ministry, which are seeking segregated recording of data to improve tracking of public health and resolution of dog bite cases.
In a representation that the AWBI sent to the Ministry last year, it had indicated that, in the absence of specific segregated data, there was an assumption that the majority of bites are mainly caused by street dogs. The AWBI said the segregation of data would also help understand the distribution of dog bite cases and increase accountability and responsibility among pet owners.
The AWBI is a statutory advisory body under the Ministry of Fisheries, Livestock and Dairy.
Abi Vanak, an ecologist at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), said the segregation of data recording will help in monitoring dog bites and rabies.
However, he added, the authorities should pay more attention to the history of vaccination and sterilization of dogs.
Vanak also pointed out that the Animal Birth Control Rules (ABC Rules), 2023, have created categories like “street dogs and community dogs”.
“In such cases, it becomes almost impossible to verify the current ownership status, especially if the dog is free,” said Vanak, senior and director, center for policy design, ATREE.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 03-17-2024 at 03:27 IST
