Imphal, March 21: Waking up to the threat of the outbreak of rabies in some valley districts, state Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has set up three mobile teams and begun control operations.

each team consists of a veterinary doctor, two field assistants and an attendant, said the Department's newly appointed director-in-charge Dr Th Doren today.

The mobile teams would cover interior areas of Thoubal, Bishnupur and Greater Imphal areas wherein not only would anti-rabies vaccine be administered but brain tissue samples of 'mad dogs' with the consent of the owners would be collected to determine intensity of the disease, said the official who assumed charge of office today.

Asserting that the mobile teams have begun their assigned task with immediate effect, Dr Doren said the veterinarians would also conduct awareness campaigns in villages.

Owing to intensity of the outbreak that had claimed 18 human lives so far the director along with his subordinate staffs launched whirlwind survey to assess prevailing situation at some areas of the three districts.

till date the V&AH department has administered over 1000 doses of anti-rabies vaccine to control/contain the disease outbreak, he said and expressed confidence of cooperation from volunteers of local organisations to the Department's endeavour in immunizing the entire canine population of the State.

On AR vaccine running low/out at the Department's stock, Dr Doren claimed he had personally intimated authorities of vaccine manufacturers and had received assurance that 12,000 doses would be dispatched through a stockist today.

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