World Rabies Day, observed annually on 28th September, is a global health observance aiming at raising awareness about rabies and strengthening prevention and control efforts. The year 2022 represents the 16th observation of this significant day.
The selection of 28th September is not arbitrary as it commemorates the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, the notable French chemist and microbiologist who developed the first rabies vaccine. In 2007, the inaugural World Rabies Day was launched by two major partners – Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC) and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta (CDC).
The 2022 Theme: One Health, Zero Death
The 2022’s World Rabies Day theme is “One Health, Zero Death”. The emphasis of this theme is on the profound connection between the environment, humans, and animals, underscoring the need for a synergistic approach to rabies prevention and control.
Rabies: A Closer Look
Rabies is a zoonotic, viral disease, preventable by vaccination. It is caused by a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus present in the saliva of an infected animal such as dogs, cats, monkeys, among others. The transmission typically occurs when an infected animal bites another creature, depositing the virus-containing saliva into the wound.
The fatality of rabies is close to 100% once symptoms become evident. The victims usually perish within four days to two weeks due to cardio-respiratory failure. In 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for transmitting the rabies virus to humans. Incubation periods can range between one week to a year or even more, although typically, it is around two to three months.
Treatment and Symptoms
Rabies treatment necessitates the immediate removal of the virus from the wound by washing it thoroughly with water and soap and applying antiseptics to minimize nerve infection risks. Rabies can effectively be prevented by pet vaccination, avoiding wildlife encounters, and seeking prompt medical care after potential exposures before symptoms set in.
Rabies symptoms initially resemble flu symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Other signs include anxiety, confusion, hyperactivity, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, hallucinations, and insomnia.
India’s Initiatives for Rabies Prevention
India has formulated the National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030, a multi-faceted strategy hinging on the One Health Approach. This approach acknowledges that human health is closely intertwined with the health of animals, plants, and their shared ecosystem.
The mission of this strategy is to achieve zero human deaths due to dog-mediated Rabies by 2030. The plan’s primary principles include prevention through cost-effective public health interventions, promotion through advocacy, awareness, and education, and partnerships involving community, civil society, government, private sectors, and international partners.
