Chennai: The high incidence of rabies in India is due to large uncontrolled stray dog population, says a report. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates around 1.75 million dog bite cases every year causing around 59,000 deaths worldwide each year with majority of cases (95 per cent) taking place in Africa and Asia.
A 2015 study, published in peer-reviewed PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases estimates about 20,800 rabies deaths every year in India – the highest in the world at 36 per cent of total deaths due to rabies.
Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) organised free vaccination camps in over 170 centres across the country to mark ‘World Zoonosis Day’ which is observed every year 6 July. Around 50,000 doses of RAKSHARAB (antirabies vaccine) produced by IIL was administered free of cost in as many as 20 States and Union Territories through veterinary dispensaries, NGOs, a press release said.
Diseases that transmit from animals to human beings are called zoonotic and 70 per cent of all emerging diseases that affect humans are zoonotic in nature. In India, occurrence of rabies is prevalent and accounts for more than
90 per cent of all zoonotic cases reported in the country. Stray dogs account for nearly 80 per cent of the canine population in India. There are several reasons for the high incidence including poor vaccination.
Prophylaxis through vaccination is the most cost-effective intervention to reduce incidence of disease. Several countries have been able to reduce the number of rabies related human deaths through vaccination of dogs, the release said.