With the recent outbreak of rabies in goats and stray dogs in Pasakha and Phuentshogling, livestock and health officials are carrying out extensive measures to curb the viral disease from spreading further. Health and livestock officials are vaccinating people and animals exposed to the disease.
The first case was detected in a goat in the Pasakha Industrial area. Following the death of the goat earlier this month, officials investigated the case.
Officials found that the goat was bitten by a suspected rabid dog. The sample from the goat later tested positive for rabies.
Health officials vaccinated 72 people including veterinary officials who were found to have been directly exposed to the rabies virus.
Similarly, last Thursday, officials were informed about a suspected rabid dog by factory workers in Pasakha. The suspected dog, which later tested positive for rabies, had bitten five other dogs.
Yesterday, a team including officials from the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority again visited an industry area in Pasakha after receiving a report of a stray dog’s death.
The dog, which is said to have come from across the border, tested negative for rabies on the rapid test kit. The sample will be sent to Thimphu for confirmation.
“All the free-roaming dogs are vaccinated and sterilized in the last nationwide Accelerated Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Programme. Over 1300 dogs were vaccinated and sterilized. And frequently rabies incidences are reported in unnotched dogs. These dogs are suspected to have moved from across the border area,” said Dr Chendu Dorji, Regional Veterinary Officer.
Officials are requesting the public to inform veterinary officials should they see suspected rabid dogs or are bitten by animals.
Today, officials visited the outbreak areas and vaccinated animals exposed to the virus.
So far, livestock officials vaccinated about 30 dogs, 15 cats, and a goat against rabies.
Kinley Dem, Phuentshogling
Edited by Sherub Dorji
