Ajay

BANGALORE: Despite claims by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that it is doing everything possible to control the stray dog menace in the city, another child has died of rabies.

Four-year-old Ajay, son of Manjula and Manjunath, was bitten by a dog on his left hand, near his house on the 5th Main in Kurubarahalli of Kamalanagar some time ago.

When they took him to K.C. General Hospital on Tuesday, they were sent to Vani Vilas Hospital as the former did not have stock of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV). Doctors at Vani Vilas diagnosed the boy as having hydrophobia and referred him to the Epidemic Diseases Hospital, where the boy breathed his last early on Friday.

While BBMP officials blamed the parents for neglecting the dog bite and not taking the child to a BBMP health centre where there is no shortage of ARV, the reality is that the BBMP's dog catching drive is a total farce. Though the area has several stray dogs, the BBMP has not taken them away, according to the residents.

However, BBMP Health Officer (West) Devaki Umesh said the very same residents had protested when the dogs were rounded up two months ago. "They demanded that we release the dogs as they provide security to their houses. According to rules, we have to catch the dogs, neuter and release them back in the same area," she said.

Following the incident, three teams have been set up to catch all dogs in the area. The Rajajinagar Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Jayarame Gowda said more than 40 dogs were caught on Friday.

"We will get all the dogs certified by veterinarians and decide on the future course of action," he added.

BBMP Commissioner K. Jairaj announced a compensation of Rs. 15,000 to the boy's parents.

According to doctors at the Epidemic Diseases (Isolation) Hospital, the boy was bitten around a month ago and was being treated by a private medical practitioner near his house. He had received three doses of rabies vaccine.

"According to our records, his parents took him to a government hospital, but they were sent away from there because there was no stock of rabies vaccine. On Thursday, he had excess salivation and hydrophobia and he was taken to Vani Vilas Hospital from where he was referred to our hospital on Thursday evening," a doctor at the hospital said.

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