Delhi and Bengal top list of rabies deaths, says Union govt.
- As per the information by the Health Ministry, Delhi saw the highest number of deaths due to rabies in the country in 2022.
Rabies
- Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease.
- It is caused by a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus that is present in the saliva of a rabid animal (dog, cat, monkey, etc).
- It is invariably transmitted following a bite of an infected animal that leads to deposition of the saliva and the virus in the wound.
- Symptoms
- The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to flu and may last for a few days.
- This includes fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, confusion, hyperactivity, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, hallucinations, insomnia.
- Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal.
- The death invariably occurs in four days to two weeks due to cardio-respiratory failure.
- In upto 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans.
- Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.
Initiatives to Deal with Rabies
- National Action Plan For Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) from India by 2030
- The stray dog population control and management is the mandate of the local bodies.
- Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023 to be implemented by the local authority to control the population of stray dogs.
- Focus: Anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs and neutering of stray dogs as means of population stabilization.
Prelims Takeaway
- Rabies Disease
- Zoonotic diseases