Stray dogs pose biggest rabies threat to Beijing
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-08-12 20:31
Beijing is cleaning up its dog breeding farms in the wake of several rabies
outbreaks in other parts of the country and officials say stray dogs pose the
greatest threat of rabies in the capital.
The Beijing Municipal
Agriculture Bureau will inspect the city's dog breeders and check the
registration of pet dogs, in an effort to remove potential risks of a rabies
outbreak.
"Stray animals are becoming the biggest threat of rabies
outbreak because we cannot guarantee that they have been vaccinated," an
official with the farming and veterinary department said.
The public
security department will adopt homeless animals and deal with them after
confirming they are stray. But the official did not say what will be done with
the animals.
The bureau is also warning pet owners who have not yet
registered their dogs that their pets must be vaccinated against rabies.
Dog breeding farms are required to be at least 500 meters from
residential areas and water sources and carry out strict vaccination measures.
Rabies, often spread by dog bites, attacks the nervous system and is
fatal in humans if not treated prior to the on-set of symptoms.
Mouding
County in southwest China's Yunnan Province reported the deaths of three people
from rabies in July. They died within ten days of being bitten even though they
received treatment. The outraged community slaughtered 50,000 dogs after the
deaths were reported.
The Beijing municipal government requires rabies
cases or suspected rabies cases to be immediately reported to the health
department.
More than 60,000 people have been bitten or scratched by
dogs or cats in Beijing so far this year. One rabies death occurred in Beijing
but the authorities found that the person, who did not seek treatment, was
bitten by a sick dog outside the city.
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