Rabies wrecking havoc

Rabies is a highly fatal disease of warm-blooded animals, with almost 100% mortality. The disease is transmitted mainly through bites of infected animals like dogs, cats, raccoons, bats, and wild animals like skunks, foxes, and wolves.

Shielding against Rabies

The disease is caused by “lyssavirus” of the Rhabdoviridae family. It is characterized by symptoms that include – changes in behaviour, refusal of food and water consumption, and profuse salivation that appears like froth near the mouth.

Rabies has two forms – The dumb or paralytic form which has a peculiar staring expression; and the second form, which is called the furious form. It is characterized by aggressive irritating behaviour, biting, slashing, chomping, etc. In extreme cases, the first form of rabies can cause paralysis and death due to respiratory paralysis

The virus is ‘truly neurotropic’ which means lesions are visible only in the nervous tissues. The incubation period of the disease ranges from 1 week to many years.

Preventing the peril

The conflict between rabid infected animals and humans is a major concern especially after enormous number of deaths due to rabies. The disease can be easily prevented with vaccination. The most common animal that humans come in contact with is the stray dog population.

It is not possible to give 100 % confirmation whether a dog or any animal is infected until confirmatory tests are conducted or the animal is kept under observation. But these are the signs of a rabid animal –

• Abnormal behaviour
• Abnormal vocalisation
• Excessive salivation
• Drooped jaw
• Sensitive to stimulus (sound and light)
• Aggression
• Uncoordinated movement

When an animal shows these signs, it is important to inform the local concerned authorities like municipal corporations. You can even get in touch with an animal NGO so that the animal can be taken for observation for a minimum of 10-14 days.

Guardians of Health – Government Programmes

Government plays a pivotal role in the prevention and control of rabies. The National Centre for Disease Control along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched NRCP (National Rabies Control Programme) in the year 2008. Other such schemes include – The one Health approach “Zero by Thirty”. It is a global strategic plan to curb rabies and end human death from dogs by 2030. It came into action with the teams of four organizations – the World Health Organisation

(WHO), the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

NGOs across the nation also play a crucial role by vaccinating the huge stray dog population annually and have generous involvement in eliminating rabies.

Vouching for Vaccination

Vaccination is the only solution to curb or prevent rabies.

Your furry friend needs to be vaccinated annually in pre-exposure prophylaxis. Post-exposure prophylaxis includes 5 dosages for previously not vaccinated animals or animals with poor immunity. For a vaccinated animal 2 to 3 dosages are considered appropriate as per the guidelines given by World Health Organisation.

For humans post-exposure prophylaxis, there is a combination of vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin depending on the degree of bite.

• Category I – touching/ contact, contact of licks secretions or excretions on intact skin – is not regarded as exposure.
• Category II – nibbling of uncovered skin or minor abrasions without bleeding – requires vaccine.
• Category III – single or transdermal bite or lick scratches in broken skin – requires both vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin

*Guidelines given by WHO

Vets, animal rescuers, and pet NGO workers should opt for pre-exposure vaccination for safety against rabies.

Rabies is a disease that can be easily prevented and both humans and animals can survive in harmony without harming each other. The basic need is to have awareness that prevention is possible through joint efforts. Get your pet vaccinated to keep him safe and also others around him safe!

(Snigdha Bhattacharjee – BVSC.AH 3rd year, Arawali Veterinary College, Sikar, Rajasthan, Founder Nirvana Animal Welfare)