CHENNAI: As dog menace is turning into a nightmare in the State, a stray dog bit seven people in Mahakavi Bharathi Nagar, Vyasarpadi.

The Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner J Radhakrishnan, visited the area on Tuesday after the incident. He noted that the dog and its puppies have been caught and are kept under continuous surveillance at Pulianthope pound. The dog does not present any rabies symptoms so far, according to the preliminary research and the necessary tests will be done, he said.

In total, 50 people have suffered injuries in five such incidents in the last few days. Rabies has claimed at least 20 lives this year in Tamil Nadu till October.

As per the official data from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, about 28 rabies-related deaths were reported in the State last year, while another 19 deaths were recorded in 2019. As per the dog census done by the Greater Chennai Corporation in 2018, there are 53,366 stray dogs in the city, which increased to 68,577 dogs in 2019.

In order to protect people

50 people were injured in 5 such incidents in the last few days

Rabies has claimed at least 20 lives this year in till October

7 special teams with 5 special dog catchers and veterinarians have been set up by the GCC

Plans on to vaccinate 900 stray dogs per day

303 stray dogs have been vaccinated so far

from rabies, the stray dogs are being given anti Rabies Vaccine and Ectoparasiticide by the Chennai Corporation, State Health Department and Veterinary Department.

The Chennai Corporation has set up at least 7 special teams with 5 special dog catchers and veterinarians in each team to vaccinate 900 stray dogs per day, and it is planning to vaccinate 93,000 stray dogs in all zones in a total of 121 working days.

The number of stray dogs is likely to increase after the completion of the ongoing dog census. So far, 303 stray dogs have been vaccinated and dewormed through these camps.