SATV Mar. 6, Kathmandu: The Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Centre in Syangja has sterilised 364 dogs and one cat. Similarly, the office has administered rabies vaccinations to 401 dogs and one cat.

Dr. Rupesh Shrestha, the chief of the Centre, informed that the campaign, which began on February 28, aimed at controlling rabies by conducting sterilisation and vaccinations in three municipalities within the district.

In Fedikhola, 88 dogs were sterilised while 105 received rabies vaccinations. Similarly, in Biruwa, 46 dogs were sterilised and 66 dogs were vaccinated against rabies. Similarly, one cat was sterilised in Biruwa, Dr. Shrestha said.

In Chapakot Municipality, 240 dogs underwent sterilisation, these dogs also received rabies vaccinations. Among the sterilised dogs, 168 were male and 196 were female, while the cat was male.

Dr. Shrestha highlighted that 95 per cent of rabies cases in humans result from dog bites. He explained that sterilisation and vaccination programmes were conducted to control the dog population and reduce the risk of rabies.

Community dogs were captured using nets by trained dog-catching technicians for sterilisation and vaccination. Dr. Shrestha stressed that community dogs contribute to the spread of rabies and increase their population, necessitating such initiatives.

The five-day sterilisation and vaccination campaign was led by senior veterinarian Dr. Arjun Aryal from the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kathmandu. The campaign included five veterinarians and a team of two dozen technical staff.