Dead ferocious dog tests positive for rabies at CRI

Tribune News Service

Solan/Chandigarh, March 27

The brain sample of the dog that bit 13 Mani Majra residents on Wednesday was found positive for rabies in a lab test conducted at the Kasauli-based Central Research Institute (CRI) today. The victims do not have a reason to panic as each of them were given three preventive injections — tetanus, immuno globulin and anti-rabies vaccine — within 24 hours of the dog bite, said the authorities. “However, they will have to complete the five doses over the next 25 days to fulfil the regimen,” said Dr MS Kamboj, Superintendent (Slaughterhouse), Municipal Corporation.

Confirming the development on the dog sample, the CRI Director, Dr Sunil Gupta, said, “One brain sample of a rabid dog was received from the health authorities of Mani Majra today and it has been found positive for rabies.”

“The report has been sent to the authorities concerned for further action,” he said.

Twelve of the 13 patients have been directed to follow the rabipur (anti-rabies) vaccine on March 28, April 1, 4, 8 and 22 at the civil dispensary in Sector 19. A six-year-old victim Sadia, who is currently admitted to PGI due to injuries on her lips and is scheduled to undergo a plastic surgery after three weeks, will be given the doses at the PGI on the same dates.

As the ferocious dog reportedly died yesterday, the families of the victims were concerned over the requirement of additional preventive doses. “We will go for a second dose tomorrow,” said 43-year-old dog bite victim Anjali Gupta’s husband Parveen Gupta.

In a freak incident, on March 25, 13 persons, including seven children were bitten by a dog in a colony in Mani Majra. Two children, including Six-year-old Sadia (bitten on the lips) and 10-year-old Laxmi (bitten on head), were grievously injured.

Loud cries of children had rocked the civic dispensary in Sector 19 after the incident as anti-rabies injections were administered on their wounds.

Laxmi’s father had fainted seeing her trauma while the injection was being administered to her.