Rabies

Rabies

Part of: GS-Prelims 

In News: The National Action Plan for dog Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE) was unveiled on the occasion of World Rabies Day (28th September).

Rabies is 100% fatal but 100% vaccine preventable. 33% of global rabies deaths are recorded in India.

• Senior officials to use the more familiar term ‘Hadakwa’ in popularizing the activities to be taken up under the Plan.
• To undertake extensive IEC to make people aware of the difference between vaccine and medicine with regard to Rabies; many people are confused and mistake the vaccine, a precautionary step with medicine, a curative solution after the onset of the disease. Although each Rabies death is preventable by vaccine, there are no medicines once the disease develops in a human.
• Echoing the consensus of greater focus on One Health approach, the institutionalization of an umbrella body for better co-ordination between inter-ministerial bodies and other stakeholders should be made.
• Environmental factors like rainfall, heat-wave can also contribute to the trajectory of the pathogen and the disease which calls for more research and greater awareness in this area.

News Source: PIB