Sri Lanka spends up to Rs 600 million annualy for the control of rabies and treatment, the Helath Ministry said today.
Public Health Veterinary Services (PHVS) Director Dr. L.D. Kithsiri told a news conference that annually 300,000 to 350,000 persons were admitted to hospitals with dog bites.
He was addressing the press as part of a programme to mark the Rabies day which falls today,
He said that in the 1970s there 350 to 380 deaths caused due to rabies, but now the figure has dropped to 20 to 30 per year.
He said according to the World Health Organisation by 2025 Sri Lanka can record zero rabies deaths.
Dr Kithsiri said that inorder to reach zero rabies deaths about 70 per cent of the dogs should be given the anit-rabies vaccine.
He said the dogs should be vaccinated between 4 to 6 weeks and thereafter given the second dose in six months. The vaccine should be repeated annually.
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