Prevention, control and elimination of rabies

Rabies is a fatal yet preventable viral zoonosis with a case fatality rate of 100%. It affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans and also causes encephalitis. It is transmitted primarily though the bite of an infected animal. It is manifested in two forms, that is furious and paralytic rabies and when humans are affected with the disease, they show signs of confusion, agitation and hydrophobia. The majority of the reported cases are due to dog bite which highlights the necessity for canine vaccination and stray dog population control. These are some of the measures to prevent the spread of rabies. ABC programmes in India are carried out for stray dog population control. Although, rabies is a highly fatal disease once clinical signs develop, it is still preventable by vaccinations, wound management and timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis. Therefore, achieving rabies elimination requires coordinated efforts involving animal health, human health and public awareness and community participation in programmes that are promoted to manage rabies.