LAMKA, January 14: Even as the district administration has initiated steps to control dog bite issue in the district, the death toll of victims in the district reached 11 last night with the death of the latest victim identified as Thangkhanmang Tonsing, 58, husband of Nianglam of Mata Village, Churachandpur.
Meanwhile, replying to a query from IFP, DC Lunminthang Haokip said there is no provision of compensation for the victims at the moment; however, the administration will try to provide all possible help and support to the families with support from the Health minister.
Lunminthang also said that the district administration is trying to contain the issue.
Replying to a query on the reported transit of dogs from the district to other districts, the DC said such practice is of serious concerned and check posts will soon be set up on the main roads of the district.
According to a statistic released by the DC, since last October 18 persons have been administered with vaccines for dog-bite, around 2000 dogs have been vaccinated, 253 dog bites reported including 11 death cases.
An authority of the district hospital said most of the deaths had come to the hospital at an advanced period of their infection when there are little chances of any success with medication.
Churachandpur CMO Dr Thangchinkhup Guite and the medical superintendent said there is a very limited supply of vaccines for dog-bite victims and as such as for the moment victims with BPL card holders will be given advantage.
The CMO said of the 11 deaths, three had been victims of bites by pups.
A few days back talking to this IFP correspondent, the joint director Veterinary Dr Rosangrouol Kholum had said that the practice of killing the dog that had bitten an individual without checking whether the dog was rabid is unfortunate. He had said that there were signs of rabies infection like hydrophobia in some of the patients.
The doctors apprehension and concern however has been somewhat vindicated by the latest casualty Thangkhanmang who died yesterday but was bitten way back in October 2014 and the dog already killed back then
Locals who have somewhat developed a dog phobic stance have expressed concerned that the number of casualties will soon rise in the coming days.
The authorities need to take help of the philanthropic groups, they observed while at the same time lauded the authorities for initiating the mobile teams on the roads to check dogs.
The PO to the DC Khaikhopau also read out the DC`™s order which stated that the dog caught by the mobile team will be open for reclaiming by the owner within three days from the time of the dog being caught, with a fine that will be determined by the availability of valid documents of the dog`™s vaccination etc, by the owner and after the lapse of that three day window no one will be able to claim their dog irrespective of whether they have proper documents or not.