Pet dog & stray canine test positive for rabies at Divar, vaccine drive on

Panaji:

Two dogs have tested positive for rabies at Divar in Tiswadi. The infections were discovered in a pet dog and later in a stray dog in the area, raising concerns about the spread of the disease.To contain the situation, the authorities concerned including Mission Rabies are implementing several measures to ensure public safety and the health of other animals in the vicinity.Some animals in the border areas of Goa have rabies, said Mission Rabies education director Murugan Appupillai . He added, “From Bicholim, the cases have come to Divar island.”Appupillai went on to say, “We are handling the situation, we have to find out how it (the rabies virus) has reached the island. Maybe somebody has brought dogs in.”He said that the Mission is conducting a ring-vaccination drive, covering all the dogs. He added that awareness programmes are also being held for the islanders.“Children of four schools at Divar and its communities are being educated. People have been made aware of the positive cases and we have urged them to take the required care,” Appupillai said. “I think these measures will take care of the situation.”A senior health officer of the directorate of health services said that the case of rabies in the pet dog came to light when the dog was brought by the owner to govt veterinary hospital at Tonca, Panaji.“Healthcare workers of the primary health centre at Corlim visited the dog owner’s family and vaccinated four of its members against rabies,” he said.The officer said there is no alarm about dog-bite cases in the area. “We have a sub-health centre at Divar that functions under the Corlim primary health centre,” he said. “We have directed it to take precautionary measures and extend help if other authorities need it.”In Sep 2023, Goa had registered the first case of human rabies death in over five years when a 20-year-old man from Sattari lost his life.