CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF RABIES
Rabies is a viral zoonotic neuro-invasive disease, caused by a plethora of lyssaviruses, belongs to the order Mononegavirales viruses with non-segmented, negative-stranded RNA genomes, of which the classical rabies virus is the most important in domestic or wild animals.
Almost all human exposure to rabies was fatal until a vaccine was developed in 1885 by Louis Pasteur and Émile Roux. Their original vaccine was harvested from infected rabbits, from which the virus in the nerve tissue was weakened by allowing it to dry for five to ten days. Similar nerve tissue-derived vaccines are still used in some countries, as they are much cheaper than modern cell culture vaccines.
Key interventions for rabies control include vaccination for high-risk individuals, surveillance of human cases, post-exposure prophylaxis following animal bites, vaccination and/or culling of the canine population and other animal reservoirs.
Human rabies is present in 150 countries and territories and on all continents. Endemic human rabies has become rare or has been eliminated in Western Europe, the United States and Canada and in dog rabies-free countries in Asia (Japan, Singapore, and Republic of Korea).
The number of human rabies cases globally is estimated to be around 59,000, affecting mostly children in developing countries. Over 95% of human cases of rabies are due to dog bites, with the vast majority in Africa (36.4%) and Asia (59.6%)India, with 35% of human rabies deaths, accounted for more deaths than any other country.
Owners of dogs and cats should vaccinate their animals annually or according to their vet’s advice. In rabies-endemic countries, avoid contact with wild or stray animals; never attempt to pick up an unusually tame animal, unowned puppies or animals that appear to be unwell.
Following a possible rabies exposure, immediately wash the wound with detergent or soap for several minutes, apply a disinfectant and seek medical advice as early as possible.
Equine anti-rabies serum (ERIG) and human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG), currently used for rabies post-exposure serotherapy, are either associated with adverse effects (ERIG) or are extremely expensive (HRIG).
In view of the availability, safety and efficacy of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), such inquiries might be life-saving. Contacts with bats, even in a rabies-free country, should be considered as a potential exposure to rabies. Those dealing directly with bats should receive PEP.
In rabies-endemic countries, clinicians should advise or perform PEP in any suspected exposures without delay, applying biologicals obtained from certified, state-controlled manufacturers.
Washing bite wounds and scratches for 15 minutes with soap and water, povidone iodine, or detergent may reduce the number of viral particles Visit your veterinarian with your pet animals on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs. Maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision. Call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood since these animals may be unvaccinated or ill. Keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccination will prevent them from acquiring the disease from wildlife, and thereby prevent possible transmission to family or other people.
Understanding rabies risk and knowing what to do after contact with animals can save lives.If find an injured animal, don’t touch it; contact local authorities for assistance.
If anybody comes into contact with a rabid animal, rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care.If anybody is bitten, scratched, or unsure, contact to a healthcare provider about PEP protocol.PEP consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and rabies vaccine given on the day of the rabies exposure, and then a dose of vaccine given again on days 3, 7, and 14. The vaccine should be given at recommended intervals for best results. For people who have never been vaccinated against rabies previously PEP should always include administration of both HRIG and rabies vaccine.
People who have been previously vaccinated or are receiving pre-exposure vaccination (PrEV) for rabies should receive only vaccine.Pre-exposure prophylaxis may also protect people whose post-exposure therapy is delayed and provide protection to people who are at risk for unapparent exposures to rabies. For primary vaccination, three 1.0 mL injections of HDCV or PCEC vaccine should be administered intramuscularly (deltoid area), one injection per day on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28.
Therefore, Elimination of dog-mediated rabies is feasible given political will, adequate resources and diligent programme management. The progress of elimination strategies must be continuously controlled and evaluated at regional and national levels, in order to monitor subsequent effectiveness and ensure optimisation of the use of financial and human resources. Successful follow-up and evaluation requires data, rendering the need for rabies to be a disease of obligatory notification.
“The elimination of rabies in India is a daunting task, but not an impossible one,”
JOAN CYNTHIA A
BVT17025
3rd YEAR
GUIDED BY
D R. V. RAMAKRISHNAN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
VETERINARY COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE – TIRUNELVELI
TANUVAS – CHENNAI
