Lockdown, food shortage cause spike in Indore dog bite cases

Indore, Apr 13 () Incidents of dog bites in Indore,Madhya Pradesh's most coronavirus affected city, have gone upin the past 20 days, doctors said on Monday, with activistsclaiming lack of food due to the lockdown may be making thecanines irritable and aggressive.

On Monday, 22 new COVID-19 cases were found in thecity, taking the total COVID-19 count here to 328. So far, 33people have died of the infection.

"At present, 40-50 people are coming to our hospitalevery day after being attacked by street dogs. These numbersare unusual as curfew has been imposed and people are supposedto stay indoors. At a time when the COVID-19 infection isrampant, we have to divert some staff for treatment of dogbites," Ashutosh Sharma, in charge of Hukumchand Poly Clinic,popularly known as Lal Hospital, told on Monday.

"We have to give the patients four to five injectionsover 28 days to prevent rabies," he said.

People For Animals Indore unit president PriyanshuJain said the curfew has caused 50,000 dogs in the city torummage for food.

"They are facing problems getting food which is makingthem irritable and aggressive. When hungry dogs see peoplewalking about wearing masks, they get suspicious, bark at themand attack," Jain added.

He said the Indore Municipal Corporation was making10,000 chapatis, gruel and rice for street dogs and areaswhere it was being served properly, complaints of dog biteshave come down. HWP ADU MASBNM BNM