News Analysis

Importance Of Vaccination Against Rabies

By Web News 1489

Rabies Is A Viral Ailment That Affects All Warm Blooded Animals.  

The Disease Is Endemic In Nigeria Resulting In The Death Of About 10,000 Victims Annually. On The Global Scene.

It Accounts For More Than 55,000 Deaths, Signalling The Disease As A Major Public Health Burden.

The First Reported Incidence Of Human Rabies Case In Nigeria Was Diagnosed In 1912 While Rabies In Dogs Was First Diagnosed In 1925 At Yaba Rabies Laboratory.

Dogs Are The Main Vectors Of Human Rabies Accounting For About 94% Of The Cases, Most Of Which Occur In The Rural And Peri-Urban Areas Where There Is Limited Access To Veterinary Services, Lack Of Prompt Diagnosis And Non-Existent Post Exposure Prophylaxis Leading To Increase Human Deaths.

Due To The Significance Of This Disease, In Terms Of High Level Of Fatality Despite The Fact That It Is 100% Preventable Through Vaccination, The Global Alliance For Rabies Control Has Been At The Forefront Of Campaign For The Elimination Of Rabies Worldwide And Hence Elimination Of Human Deaths Arising From The Disease By The Year 2030 In Line With The Sustainable Development Goals (Especially, Goal 3) As Enunciated By The United Nations In 2015.

This Is Why September 28 Is Celebrated Annually As “World Rabies Day” To Promote Activities That Would Eventually Lead To The Elimination Of The Disease Globally. The Day Is Also Used To Commemorate The Death Of Louis Pasteur, The Legendary Scientist Who Created A Vaccine Against Rabies.

The Theme Of This Year’s Event Is “Rabies: Facts Not Fear”. By This, It Is Envisioned That The Fear That Has Enveloped Our Communities And Individuals Arising From Misconceptions, Misinformation And Myths Associated With Rabies Would Be Demystified By The Promotion Of Scientific Facts Which If Properly Disseminated Among All And Sundry Would Lead To The Achievement Of A World Without The Misery Of Rabies.

Some Of The Facts Are As Follows: Rabies Disease Is Caused By A Germ Called Rabies Virus. “It Is Not A Spiritual Attack”

Rabies Virus Is Not A Poison That Could Be Neutralised By Any Antidote. It Is A Virus That Attaches Itself To The Nerve.

Bats Are The Reservoirs Of Rabies Disease. Dogs Become Infected Through Complex Epidemiological Interactions. Dogs Are The Major Source Of Infection To Man And Other Animals.

Dogs Could Transmit Rabies To Man Through Bite Or Licking Of Open Wounds. The Virus Is Present In the Saliva Of The Rabid Dog In Large Quantity.

Vaccination Of Dogs Could Prevent The Disease From Being Transmitted To Man 100%.

Clinical Signs of Rabies in Dogs Include Sudden Behavioural Changes, Loss Of Appetite (Anorexia), Staggering (Ataxia), Fear Of Water (Hydrophobia), Disobedience To Owner, Eating Of Strange Objects (Pica), Paralysis Of The Lower Jaw, Excessive Salivation (Drooling), A typical Aggression Among Others.

Immediate Commencement Of Post Exposure Prophylaxis In Man After The Bite Of A Rabid Dog (Within The First 24hours) Could Eliminate The Virus And Enhance Survival Of The Victim.

After The Onset Of Symptoms Of Rabies In The Affected Patient, Disease Progression Is Irreversible With Death Resulting Ultimately.

The Manifestation Of Rabies In Man Depends On The Site Of Dog Bite. The Closer the Bite To The Central Nervous System, The Earlier The Manifestation Of Symptoms In Man.

After A Bite From A Rabid Dog, It May Take Between Three Months And One Year Before Manifestation Of Symptoms.

Not All Dog Bites Are Caused By Rabies Infection, But All Dog Bites Must Be Reported In The Hospital For Appropriate Evaluation And Management.

Any Dog With Strange Behavioural Signs And Or History Of Human Bite Must Be Quarantined For 10-14 Days Under Strict Veterinary Supervision. A Rabid Dog Would Die Of The Disease Within The Period.

All Dogs From Three Months Of Age And Above Must Be Vaccinated Annually By A Veterinarian Who Must Issue A Duly Signed Certificate.

Transmission Of Rabies From Man To Man Has Not Been Reported. People Who Process Dog As Meat Is At High Risk Of The Infection. Cooking Also Destroys The Virus.

In Case Of A Bite From A Known Or Unknown Dog, The First Aid Treatment Is The Washing Of The Bite Wound Copiously With Detergent Solution For Up To 5 Minutes. The Virus Cannot Survive In Detergents

If Rabies Must Be Eliminated In Man, Rabies Must Be Eliminated In Dogs, Especially, Through Vaccination.

With Concerted Efforts Of Government, Non-Governmental Organisations and Citizens, Especially In The Area Of Responsible Dog Ownership, It Is Hoped That The War Against Rabies Shall Be Won, And Achieving Zero Rabies Incidences Globally By 2030.

Doctor Ibikunle Faramade

News Analysis

Imperative of Ending Rabies

By Web News 1198 Post a comment

The importance of dogs as domestic animals cannot be over emphasized.

Out of all animals, dogs serve as man’s greatest companion and are also used for hunting and security purposes.

Because of this closeness to man, they serve as agents of disease transmission, such as rabies, ringworm, tapeworm and parasitic skin infection caused by hookworm larvae that usually infest cats, dogs and other animals.

The most dreadful of these diseases, however, is rabies.

Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals.

 The symptoms include violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

Once symptoms appear, the result is nearly always death

 A rabied dog bites an average of ten to twenty animals or humans before being killed.

Globally, the disease accounts for fifty nine thousand deaths annually, making it a persistent endemic problem.

It is disheartening however that despite the fact that it is endemic, the true picture of the disease burden is unknown probably due to under reporting.

According to a principal researcher, National Veterinary Research Institute, Dr Ibikunle Faramade, between 1928 and now, more than five thousand cases of animal rabbies have been diagnosed at the institute.

However, reports on rabies in Nigeria to the international community is low.

For instance, from 1992 to 1998, Nigeria only submitted report on rabies once to the World Health Organization and the pattern has remained the same till date.

Importantly, animal disease reporting mechanism should be completely overhauled to generate reliable animal disease data including rabies and to facilitate adequate planning, prevention and control of diseases.

It is therefore imperative to immediately report incidences of dog bites at veterinary hospitals for prompt treatment.

The theme for this year’s World Rabbies Day celebration, “End Rabbies, Vaccinate, Eliminate Rabbies Transmission Cycle” is apt as it would help to raise awareness about the disease and to highlight progress made so far in defeating  it.

28 September also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

In view  of the danger rabies pose to public health, there is need to make vaccination of all  domestic animals mandatory while also checking the increasing population of stray dogs in the country.

Also, subsidizing vaccines for rabies would go a long way in encouraging more people to vaccinate their dogs

Commendably, the passage of amended dog bill into law by the Oyo State House of Assembly is a step in the right direction. 

It is hoped that when the bill is signed into law and implemented, the menace of rabies would be effectively tackled. 

Moreover, the department of veterinary services across the country should be strengthened with adequate personnel and equipment.

For instance, there are only thirteen veterinary officers in Oyo State managing animal health service delivery in the thirty three local government and local council development areas.

This is grossly inadequate.

To achieve the sustainable development goal of ending rabies by 2030 globally, there is need for all stakeholders to collaborate in this regard.

Anthonia Akanji