Mass Rabies Vaccination in Mumbai: BMC to Undertake Rabies Vax Drive in February 2024 as Stray Dog Population Increases to 1.64 Lakh

Mumbai, August 26: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday said the population of stray dogs in Mumbai has likely reached 1.64 lakh, nearly 72 per cent more than that in 2014. The municipal corporation has decided to conduct a mass rabies vaccination to keep the stray dogs in check and avoid any untoward incidents in the city. This large-scale rabies vaccination campaign is proposed in February 2024, after the next census of stray dogs in January next year. Dog Stuck on Railtrack Saved Just as Train Arrives Near Bandra Terminus in Mumbai, Video Surfaces Online.

The BMC, in its press release, said, "Around one lakh stray dogs will be vaccinated in ten days." The civic body emphasised the need to vaccinate at least 70% of the total stray dog population to bring down the chances of rabies transmission. One BMC official said that 1.64 lakh is are estimated number and is not the exact stray dog population in the city. It must be noted that the stray dog population is calculated as per the human population at that time and its corresponding increase. The ratio of human to stray dog population is considered then with the current one, and that is how the number is achieved. Pothole-Free Mumbai: BMC Launches Citywide Road Concretisation Program.

On Tuesday, the civic body, with the help of a few NGOs, vaccinated 26 stray dogs against rabies at Mumbai International Airport. In an effort to improve the management of stray dogs, BMC used near-field communication (NFC) tags for vaccinated dogs. The vaccination campaign was executed in collaboration with various organisations, including NGO Yoda, Captain India, Zimaxx, and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2023 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).