Rabies is close to 100% fatal, but it is also almost 100% preventable. Greater efforts need to be put into avoiding canine rabies by vaccinating dogs, health experts said on the occasion of the World Zoonoses Day. The event which falls on July 6 raises awareness on diseases transmissible from animals to humans — teaching everyone to take right action.
The Global Alliance for Rabies Control said that mass vaccination could “make rabies history,” reported the BBC. Similarly, the organisation HealthforAnimals decided to focus on rabies on this year’s Zoonoses Day urging governments to vaccinate dogs.
Around 160 people die every single day from rabies
A global study on canine rabies by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control found that 160 people die every single day from the disease. Even though the disease is preventable, the study says that around almost 60,000 people die every year of rabies transmitted by dogs.
Economic losses because of the disease are as high as 8.6 billion US dollars. This is mostly due to premature deaths, spending on human vaccines and lost income for victims of animal bites.
Some statistics on rabies
Researchers found that the greatest risk of canine rabies is in the poorest countries and that the proportion of dogs vaccinated is far below that necessary to control the disease across almost all regions of Africa and Asia. Here, where rabies kill the most people, reporting systems were considered to be ineffective.
Newly published statistics by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control say that 60 percent of rabies casualties are children under the age of 15. The high incidence may be attributed to families turning to traditional remedies or faith healers — judged ineffectual at treating the disease.
Vaccination is the answer
According to a study published in the Journal Science some mass dog vaccination pilot programs undertaken by researchers in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia have shown great results.
Expert Guy Palmer said that vaccination of dogs would eliminate 98 percent of the rabies health burden globally. He added that the disease is an ancient plague, yet rabies remains one of the most consistently fatal infectious diseases known to mankind.
Collaboration between the human and animal health sectors can save many lives and significantly reduce the burden on vulnerable economies, experts said. Indeed, research shows that the countries that have invested most in dog vaccination are the ones where human deaths from the disease have been virtually eliminated.
Atmoph is for anyone that feels nature amazing. Let’s protect our nature dwellers!:
World Zoonoses Day: Rabies 100% Fatal, 100% Preventable
No comments:
Post a Comment