Today is World Rabies Day

athmandu. World Rabies Day is also being celebrated in Nepal with various public awareness programs. Every year, September 28 is celebrated as World Rabies Day to raise awareness of the progress being made against rabies and the prevention of this disease.
This year’s slogan ‘One for all, one health for all’ highlights the fact that health is not only for a select few, but for all. This day is also celebrated as the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur. French scientist Louis developed the first vaccine against rabies.
The purpose of this day is to unite all groups, organizations and stakeholders in the fight against rabies. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control started celebrating World Rabies Day from 2007. Later, the World Health Organization supported this day.
Nepal has set a goal of reducing rabies to zero by 2030. But doctors say that rabies is becoming a challenge in Nepal. Still, 99 percent of rabies is caused by dog bites. According to the statistics of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the last fiscal year 2079/80, 75 thousand five hundred sixty two people were bitten by dogs and nine thousand nine hundred twenty one were bitten by other animals.
Similarly, in the year 2075/76, 32,882 people were bitten by dogs. This number gradually increased to 54,996 people in the year 077/78.
Last year, 250,000 “ARV” vials of vaccine were consumed. According to the division, 10 people died due to rabies in Nepal in the year 070/71.
Thirteen people died in the year 071/72, six in the year 072/73, eight in the year 073/74, 32 in the year 074/75 and 18 in the year 075/76. However, although the number of animal bite cases reported in recent years has fluctuated, the number of rabies deaths has been increasing compared to last year, officials of the department say.
Rabies is a deadly viral infection, it is called a neurotropic virus. which is transmitted by the bite of infected animals such as stray dogs, foxes, bats, rats, tigers, leopards and cats. In order to avoid rabies, it is necessary to get vaccinated immediately after possible exposure.
Symptoms of rabies infection start with fever and headache and fear of light, water and air. This can lead to paralysis and eventually coma. Doctors suggest to be very careful when touching or feeding wild animals or pets like dogs or cats.
Roshika Shrestha, veterinary officer of the division, said, ‘This disease can be avoided if the rabies vaccine is administered immediately. Otherwise, once symptoms begin to appear, it is fatal, and in most cases, death.’ He said that it is necessary to increase public awareness about rabies to remove confusion. ‘This disease can be transmitted when bitten by any type of dog of any age group. It does not mean that the house has been vaccinated. Even a dog kept at home can get infected’, he said, ‘vaccine against rabies should be applied immediately. There is a misconception that children under the age of five do not get rabies. Vaccination against it is essential for all age groups.’
He suggests that as soon as the animal bites, it should be cleaned in running water for 15 minutes. The government has been providing free vaccination against it in primary health centers. According to the doctor, there is a practice of rubbing turmeric and chili on the wound, which increases the risk of infection.