“We have trained enough staff for the centre and have been operating around the clock since May 29. The number of dog-bite cases that the hospital treats has been rising year after year,” Dr Daw Khin Theingi Myint, the hospital’s medical superintendent told The Myanmar Times.





The centre uses the intradermal vaccination method, where 0.1 millilitre doses of vaccine are injected just under the skin on days 0, 7 and either 21 or 28 following a bite. The method is in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

About 100 people are treated for dog bites at Yangon General Hospital daily, hospital officials said.

From January to April, 3774 people who were bitten by dogs were treated at the hospital, with most of the victims from Dala townships. Hospital records show that nine people died from rabies during the first four months of the year. Last year, the hospital treated about 10,872 people for dog bites. Of those patients, 25 died from rabies, according to the records of hospital.

“I was bitten by stray dog near my house. The services of health staff at dog bite treatment centre are good for me and the vaccinations are free of charge,” said Daw San Aye a dog bite victim from Sanchaung Township.

The Ministry of Health and Sports also plans to open dog bite treatment centres in North Okkalapa General Hospital, Insein General Hospital and Thingangyun Sanpya General Hospital to address the rising number of people being bitten by dogs in Yangon Region.