An anti-rabies vaccination drive was successfully conducted at Dibrugarh Airport complex on Sunday, marking a collaborative initiative between government authorities and civil society to bolster public health safety at the aviation facility.
The Veterinary Department, Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC), and local NGO Animal Welfare People jointly organized the drive, vaccinating 22 stray dogs residing within the airport premises, including the Air Traffic Control (ATC) block and residential quarters.
Teams of veterinarians and animal welfare volunteers systematically covered the airport campus throughout the day, focusing on both operational and residential areas. The initiative aimed to create a protective barrier against rabies, a fatal zoonotic disease affecting both animals and humans, while ensuring safety in this critical infrastructure zone.
“Airport areas often house stray dog populations that interact with staff, passengers, and residents. Regular vaccination drives are essential not only for human safety but also for the humane management of these animals,” said a volunteer from Animal Welfare People, expressing gratitude for the cooperation from airport authorities and DMC.
DMC Deputy Mayor Ujjal Phukon highlighted the drive’s significance, stating, “Airports, with their large, open spaces, can often become habitats for stray dogs. By vaccinating them, we significantly reduce the risk of rabies transmission, ensuring a safer environment for passengers, staff, and the animals themselves.”
The vaccination program represents a proactive approach to public health management in high-traffic areas where human-animal interaction is frequent. Rabies remains a serious concern in India, with dog bites accounting for the majority of human cases.
Authorities confirmed that similar drives would be conducted periodically to maintain herd immunity among the stray dog population, ensuring sustained protection against rabies transmission in the Dibrugarh Airport area.
