DVS open to rabies vaccination programme for strays

GEORGE TOWN: An estimated 70% of stray dogs in Penang can be vaccinated against rabies by March 2016 according to animal welfare group Stop Killing Start Vaccinating (SKSV).
A SKSV statement yesterday said the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) was open to a mass vaccination programme for strays in Penang following a Wednesday meeting between DVS and Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) CEO Dr Luke Gamble.
"The long term aim of this project is to roll the mass vaccination campaign to the entire northern region of the country in a bid to strengthen the immune buffer zone," the statement said.
Perlis, Kedah and Penang have started culling stray dogs after rabies was detected among the dog population last month.
The culling exercise has however attracted the criticism of animal welfare groups but many have also voiced their support for the culling exercise.
SKSV however expressed regret that DVS has yet to indicate the culling exercise would cease, claiming research showed rabies transmission was not dependent on population density.
"We sincerely hope and urge DVS to consider this option (of stopping the cull) in the near future," the statement said.
On Tuesday, Gamble said WVS can rapidly deploy 40,000 rabies vaccination doses once approval is obtained for their usage in a mass vaccination programme.
He was speaking during a press conference with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Putrajaya Department of Veterinary Services senior chief assistant director Dr Rozanah Asmah Abd Samad and Penang DVS director Dr Siti Salmiyah Tahir.
Gamble said the programme will be a flagship for controlling rabies in the region and will be developed to exceed the World Health Organisation's guidelines.
He said dogs vaccinated will be marked while follow-up teams will also be deployed to survey the vaccinated and non-vaccinated dog population.
Lim however said that despite his administration's interest in WVS's proposal, the culling will continue in the interest of public health.