World Rabies Awareness Day
Wednesday September 28, 2016 - Educate.Vaccinate.Eliminate.
World Rabies Day, celebrated every year on 28th September, is a day dedicated towards raising awareness, preventing and controlling the spread of rabies. It is an attempt to unite the world in the fight against rabies. This year the theme of the event is “Educate. Vaccinate. Eliminate”.
Rabies is a fatal disease that affects the human brain and causes thousands of deaths annually. According to World Health Organization (WHO), one person in every ten minutes dies from rabies every year. More than 95 percent deaths caused due to rabies occur in Asia and Africa. Children being more susceptible to dog bites are at higher risk of getting infected with rabies. It is estimated that every four out of ten deaths occur in children under the age of 15.
In India alone, more than 30,000 victims die of rabies every year as per National Center for Disease Control. It has been found that 97% of the people are bitten by dogs and only 3% people are bitten by other animals (cats, jackals, mongoose, rats, etc).
Rabies is a viral disease caused by lyssavirus. The virus is transmitted from animals to humans through wounds or scratches or by direct contact with mucosal surfaces of an infected animal (eg, bites). It cannot spread through uninjured or intact surfaces of human body. After the virus comes in contact with the human skin or muscle, it progresses towards the spinal cord and brain. The infected person starts showing signs and symptoms after the virus reaches the brain.
Although rabies is fatal, yet it is a 100% vaccine preventable disease. Some of the steps that should be followed in order to prevent rabies are as follows:
- Create awareness regarding rabies especially among children.
- Avoid unnecessary contact with stray animals.
- Do vaccinate domestic dogs including stray as well as pet dogs.
- People who face high risk of exposure such as dog catchers, medical and paramedical staff who come in contact with rabies patients or animals, travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas should get themselves immunized.
- Consult a doctor immediately for anti-rabies vaccine in case of an animal bite.
Keeping the fatality of the disease in mind, let us all join the global fight against rabies on this Word Rabies Day and contribute in eradicating this vulnerable disease.
-Source: World Health Organisation