Livestock officials are carrying out a mass sterilization campaign for dogs in Kanglung Gewog of Trashigang, after confirmation of a rabies case in the area. The samples from a dog and two calves have tested positive for rabies.
The samples were sent to the National Center for Animal Health in Thimphu after a few locals and domestic animals in Rongthoong and Lingkhar area in Kanglung were bitten by a rabid dog.
“We have sent the suspected samples for a confirmatory lab test at Thimphu. The lab also intimated that the samples tested positive,” Dr Tshering Dorjee the Regional Director of Regional Livestock Development Center, said.
With the help of college students and other volunteers, livestock officials are going around catching stray dogs and getting them vaccinated.
Local people also brought along their pet dogs and cats for vaccination.
“We carried out vaccination programs in the Dzongkhag last year and even a few months ago. Still, some sporadic cases emerged since a few dogs escaped getting vaccinated. Therefore, we have again started with the campaign,” Dr Tshering Dorjee said.
Meanwhile, with the suspected case last week, students and residents that consumed local dairy products have also been rushing in for vaccinations.
Livestock officials explained they have already stopped the dairy products in the market from the affected houses and moreover the rabid case was in calves and not milking cows.
The officials added even if one consumes the dairy products, it is safe if the milk is boiled and cheese processed at a certain degree of temperature.
More than 200 cats and dogs have been vaccinated in the gewog so far. The vaccination campaign is expected to go on for a few more days.
