Bhubaneswar: The capital of Odisha has taken a bold step toward becoming rabies-free. On Monday, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) rolled out a citywide mass dog vaccination campaign, flagged off by Mayor Sulochana Das and Commissioner Chanchal Rana.
The initiative, spanning all BMC wards, is part of a tripartite agreement with Mission Rabies, WVS India, and OETI, ensuring technical and scientific expertise. A committee formed under the National Rabies Prevention and Control Guidelines (NRPCG) will oversee the operations.
The drive, expected to last 75-90 days, aims to vaccinate 40,000 dogs, 37,000 through the campaign and 3,000 via BMC operations. Trained catchers will safely capture stray dogs, administer anti-rabies shots, and mark them with non-toxic identifiers.
Technology is playing a key role in thsi project. A mobile app developed by Mission Rabies-WVS will track vaccinations in real time, while blood samples will be tested at India's only WOAH-certified rabies lab in Bangalore.
Officials stressed that vaccinating at least 70% of the dog population is critical to building herd immunity. The campaign also saw participation from Deputy Mayor Manjulata Khan, senior BMC officials, veterinarians, and field staff.
With this ambitious drive, Bhubaneswar hopes to set a benchmark in urban rabies prevention.