Putting prevention first, authorities lead the fight against rabies

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 29:Governmental and non-governmental authorities have prioritised prevention as the key strategy to eliminate rabies. The importance of preventive measures was also highlighted on the occasion of World Rabies Day on Thursday. 

The day was marked with the theme “All for 1, One Health for All” throughout Nepal on Thursday. The theme highlights that one health is not for a selected few but for everyone. 

According to health experts, all warm-blooded mammals, including humans, are susceptible to infection by the rabies virus, but the virus is vaccine-preventable.

Globally, rabies, which is transmitted from dogs, cats, jackals and wolves among others, is estimated to cause 59,000 human deaths annually. The number of cases of dog bites is far higher, states the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) states that 75,562 cases of dog bites were reported from across the country in 2021/22.

It was the highest number of dog bite cases reported annually compared to 54,996 in 2020/21.  52,610 in 2019/20, 32,882 in 2018/19, 33,204 in 2017/18, 37,226 in 2016/17, 20,133 in 2015/16, 17,320 in 2014/15 and 31,976 in 2013/14.

Officials at the EDCD informed that 13 people died of rabies in 2021/22, while 18 perished in 2020/21, 15 in 2019/20, 18 in 2018/19, 32 in 2017/18, eight in 2016/17, six in 2015/16, 13 in 2014/15 and 10 in 2013/14.

Zoonotic disease experts, however, argued that no proper analysis or study was conducted to find the reason behind the fluctuating pattern of dog bite cases and deaths.

Meanwhile, as per the annual report of the Department of Health Services in 2021/22, over 300,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine are distributed throughout the country annually.

“Rabies cases are almost fatal, but they are also 100 per cent preventable by vaccination, and awareness about human and animal interaction,” read the annual report.

As per the experts, stray dogs are mostly infected with rabies and have a high chance of attacking locals compared to pet dogs as they are regularly vaccinated. 

“An individual should not disturb or frighten a dog while eating, keep away when a dog is angry/scared, do not run if a dog is behind (stand still like a tree) and approach a dog slowly,” read a brochure by the WHO on tips to prevent dog bites.

Nevertheless, in case an individual is bitten by a rabid dog, doctors suggest washing the wound with soap and water at the earliest and rushing towards a health centre. EDCD officials informed that vaccines against rabies were available in almost every health centre across the country. 

Nevertheless, experts stressed that the authorities should prioritise the vaccination of stray dogs to prevent rabies from getting transmitted to other dogs and humans. 

Annual reports of the DoHS and EDCD highlight the need to vaccinate 70 per cent of dogs against rabies as it helps break the rabies transmission cycle in an area at risk. However, such initiation has not been implemented strictly yet. 

A manual on rabies by the EDCD states that rabies can be transmitted to humans while touching or feeding animals, animals’ licking on intact skin, nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding, single or multiple transdermal bites/scratches or contamination of mucous membrane or broken skin with saliva from animal licks among others.