IMPHAL, January 19: The Health Directorate still has 1100 rabies vaccines in stock and another 2000 have been ordered, said National Rural Health Mission, State director, Dr. Okram Ibomcha Singh in a meeting with the media here today.
A total of 500 rabies immunoglobulin vials will soon arrive from Delhi, he said while elaborating that so far 820 vials of anti-rabies vaccines have been sent to Churachandpur, 120 vials to Thoubal, 10 to Chandel and 30 to Tamenglong.
He said while the cases of casualties of dog bite is a matter of concern, there is still no cause for panic.
Moreover, even in the worst cases, test reports are still awaited on whether all or any of the case was rabies death.
He said his department is keeping a close vigil, but so far rabies has not been confirmed clinically in the recent cases of dog bite casualties.
Speaking to a select group of media persons at the Health Directorate Office today, he showed optimism that the dog bite cases would decrease in about a week`™s time.
He said during the past two weeks there have been several reports of dog-bites in the media. There are dog bite death cases in Churachandpur and other places.
In Bishnupur district and Thoubal district there have been dog bite cases but no deaths reported, he said adding that though rabies is suspected the disease is still not confirmed in these cases.
Apart from the Churachandpur cases, he said there was a report of a dog bite case in Andro, and he personally went there to assess the situation.
Here there were three cases of dog-bite in 1000 human population which is not abnormal, he added.
One child was reported dead due to dog bite in Andro but we have not confirmed rabies clinically, he continued.
We are creating awareness among people through the media of the precautions to be taken in dog bite cases. People have been turning up in good number in these awareness and medical campaigns, he said continuing.
He said recent news reports may have made the public panic, but it is still not as bad as it is made out to be.
He said one person died today at Churachandpur and blood sample has been sent for further test.