KATHMANDU: Nepal, whose streets are full of stray dogs, desperately lacks a policy on rabies control, experts warned here today. The fact that rabies is transmitted from dogs

in most developing countries, further increases the vulnerability of the population in Nepal in the face of freely roaming canine dogs that could potentially spread the disease, which kills 55,000 people worldwide, every year.

Dr Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Vice President of Nepal Veterinary Association (NVA), made a startling revelation that the NVA had recorded at least 1,692 deaths from 2000 to 2009 June, due to dog and fox bites in Nepal. He was addressing an anti-rabies awareness campaign in the capital, today.

“Canine rabies is widespread in over 80 countries, mainly in the developing world. Nepal is no exception,” said Dr Ghimire.

On the occasion, participants, demanded that

the government form a taskforce immediately to

formulate policy for the control of the deadly rabies, which attacks the central nervous system.

The virus is transmitted from animal to humans through infected saliva — often by bite.

The symptoms, which develop usually late through animal bite, has no known cure, said Dr Ghimire. Nepal Veterinary Association (NVA), under Department

of Livestock Services, is marking a week-long

awareness campaign about the disease, from September 20 to 28.

The one-day awareness campaign will be celebrated on the eve of the world

rabies day, across the country with the slogan — “working together to make

rabies history”.

Meantime, Laxman Pokhrel, joint secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, expressed his firm commitment that his ministry would play the role of a facilitator in realising the anti-rabies law.

He, however, argued that the government would

not resort to killing of

stray dogs,which will amount to inhumane

practice. Religious beliefs also prohibit killing a dog, which is worshiped by many Hindus - as an avatar of Yama, the god of hell - usually worshiped in Tihar.

Pokhrel further said that in order to realise the national rabies control policy, what is needed in first place is the dog census in the country, or the dog population and management.

“Only a public-private partnership approach

could materialise such an ambitious goals, including vaccination and awareness,” he added.

Meantime, Dr. Subir Singh, General Secretary of NVA, informed that the NVA is organising a free anti-rabies vaccine campaign to community dogs at Tokha VDC in Kathmandu.