3,000 Stray Dogs Receive Free Rabies Vaccination in Dhangadhi

Dhangadhi: In a commendable initiative, approximately 3,000 dogs in Dhangadhi, Kailali, have been vaccinated against rabies, all free of cost.

This mass vaccination drive was launched in response to a notable increase in the population of stray dogs in Dhangadhi. The Kailali Veterinary Hospital and Animal Services Expert Center have undertaken the noble task of vaccinating a total of 5,000 dogs, encompassing both strays and domesticated ones, without any charge. This comprehensive campaign has been extended to cover all 13 local levels within the Kailali district, including the Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city.

Within the confines of Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city, around 3,000 dogs have been successfully inoculated against rabies. Dr. Hemraj Awasthi, Chief Senior Animal Development Officer at the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Services Expert Center, revealed that this week-long vaccination drive was prompted by instances of stray dog bites affecting not only other dogs and animals but also humans.

A dedicated team of veterinary professionals and technicians was dispatched to Toltol for administering the vaccinations. It's worth noting that, last year, after Kathmandu, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts reported the highest incidences of rabies among animals. Dr. Naresh Prasad Joshi, the head of the Animal Disease Research Laboratory in Dhangadhi, reported 55 cases of rabies among dogs, foxes, cows, goats, and buffaloes over an eight-month period. Furthermore, in Sudurpaschim Province, a total of 15,000 community and pet dogs have received rabies vaccinations across nine districts.

Alongside the vaccination campaign, a week-long program was organized in educational institutions starting from September 22nd. This initiative aimed to raise awareness about rabies among students and the broader community. In Kailali, a remarkable 5,000 community and pet dogs have benefited from the rabies vaccination drive. Moreover, in the Inner Madhesh region of Dadeldhura, over 2,000 dogs have been successfully vaccinated. Dr. Joshi highlighted that more than 40 percent of rabies cases in Nepal are concentrated in the Far West region.

Dr. Joshi emphasized, "School students are particularly vulnerable, and young children face a higher risk of being bitten by stray community dogs and contracting rabies." The 17th World Rabies Day, celebrated across the country, coincided with the date of Louis Pasteur's passing, the renowned scientist who invented the rabies vaccine, making it a poignant day to raise awareness about this deadly disease.