World Rabies Day 2022: One Health Zero Deaths
Dr. V.K.Varun, Assistant Professor (Veterinary Medicine)
Department of Veterinary Clinical complex, COVAS, SVPUAT, Meerut, UP-250110
‘World Rabies Day’ is celebrated worldwide to mark the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, a French scientist who developed the first rabies vaccine. It’s a day where Anti Rabies actions are collated, intensified and showcased. World Rabies Day is an opportunity to reflect on how rabies impacts our community and other communities around the world including human and animal species. One Health concept is very much important to control various zoonotic diseases among communities. Rabies is a classical “One Health” challenge wherein more than 99% of deaths arise from exposure to a rabid dog. This disease does not fit into the domain of any one single department having the responsibility of controlling Rabies. Mortality and morbidity is seen in humans and animals, but the impact is highest in human beings. Additionally, the disease has no cure, but could have been completed prevented has always disconcerted the Medical community. After a dog bite, Vaccines are available to prevent Canine Rabies as well as Human Rabies. However, imperfect awareness compounded by variable accessibility of PEP has resulted in the persistence of human rabies fatalities. For prevention, control and elimination of Rabies an effective and concerted efforts from Animal Husbandry / health Department, Public Health Department, Local self-governing bodies, Private medical /veterinary organization, universities and other stakeholders, is the need of the hour. The theme for this year 2022 is ‘World Rabies Day’ is ONE HEALTH, ZERO DEATHS.
The first part of world rabies day theme this year is One Health i.e. a concept that is becoming increasingly entrenched in disease control programs. As recent examples such as COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance have shown the world, the health of people, animals and the environment are all inextricably linked and interdependent. The importance of One Health is also evident through the discussions and its mention in the G20 summit (2020) among other major platforms, as well as the development of the WHO NTD roadmap and the One Health companion document that specifically mention rabies. Rabies elimination exemplifies the One Health approach, with participation and collaboration from human, animal, and environmental sectors. Furthermore, it is commonly used as an example of operational zing One Health. This One Health aspect of the theme has been designed to be inclusive, ensuring everyone (whether you are a professional or a member of the public interested in rabies) sees themselves as an integral partner who can make a difference and help us as a collective to achieve rabies elimination. The spirit behind this theme encourages collaboration, partnership, and a joint approach towards rabies elimination – or “Zero Deaths”, in line with the “Zero by 30: Global Strategic Plan for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030”.
The second part of the theme refers to “Zero deaths”. This aligns directly with the Zero by 30 Global Strategic Plan and highlights that rabies is preventable and that it can be eliminated as well. In fact, rabies is the only vaccine-preventable Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). This part of the theme also reminds us that we have a clear goal to work towards, and while significant progress has been made, we need to continue to work together to achieve this goal.
The global goal this year is zero death by 2030 by one health concept i.e. environment, animal and humans. Successful rabies control programs in the world had concluded that apart from post exposure prophylaxis and advocacy, ‘School based rabies education’ has been an efficient model for reaching large numbers of children who are the primary victims of animal bites. Lectures containing simple messages can improve rabies prevention through appropriate behavior, such as immediately washing bite wounds and seeking post-exposure vaccination. WORKING towards implementing this idea and in a true spirit of ‘One Health’,
In humans rabies is preventable through three following proven, effective interventions:
- Awareness of rabies disease engages communities and empowers people to save themselves by seeking the care they need. This includes an understanding of how to prevent rabies in animals, when to suspect rabies, and what to do in case of a bite.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)consists of a series of rabies vaccines and, in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), administered after a suspected exposure to rabies. Appropriate wound management and prompt access to quality-assured PEP is almost 100% effective in preventing human rabies deaths.
- Mass dog vaccination is a proven, cost–effective way to save human lives by stopping transmission of rabies at its source. While a variety of animal species can host rabies, dogs are responsible for 99% of human cases. Eliminating rabies in dogs is therefore key to sustainably preventing human disease.
Engaging communities to build awareness of rabies, and vaccinate dogs to prevent human disease, requires close One Health collaboration between the human and veterinary health sectors. National and regional elimination plans will increase preparedness and surveillance and mobilize domestic resources. This coordinated response between animal and human health systems not only has a positive impact on the livelihood of communities but also strengthens surveillance of rabies and other diseases in the human health system.
