PANAJI
Goa may have emerged as the first rabies-free State of the country with no human case since 2018 but those responsible for the milestone haven't let their guard down relentlessly continuing to vaccinate canines across the State.
According to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, nearly 90,000 canines have been vaccinated every year over the last more than five years since the government tied up with the NGO 'Mission Rabies' to eliminate the disease.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease and has no cure and certain fatality and most cases happen following a bite from a rabid dog. According to WHO statistics, it kills around 59,000 people every year and India accounts for roughly one-third of those deaths.
On the eve of World Rabies Day, Rane took to 'X', formerly Twitter, to pat Mission Rabbies on the back tweeting that the strategy and implementation have helped the State keep its slate clean since 2018.
Vaccination of dogs using remote teams of vaccinators is the bedrock of the strategy adopted by Mission Rabies and also includes a module on public education and awareness.
