Rabies epidemic in Sindh: How to control spread of the virus and number of ‘crazy’ dogs?

HealthRabies epidemic in Sindh: How to control spread of the virus and...

By Matthias Samuel

What is rabies

Rabies is a virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals including dogs, cats and humans. Though preventable, there is good reason that the word “rabies” evokes fear. Animals who have rabies secrete large amounts of virus in their saliva, the disease is primarily passed to dogs through a bite from an infected animal. It can also be transmitted through a scratch or when infected saliva contacts mucous membranes or an open, fresh wound.

Not every dog bite is rabies

According to Dr Naseem Salahuddin, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Rabies Committee and Head of Infection at Indus Hospital Karachi there are 3 types of dog bites which come to us.

  1. Patients who suffer from minor bites from dog bites. They need first aid, which is not a risk if provided.
  2. Patients who do not have deep wounds. Their blood did not come out. It also provides the necessary medical assistance. Usually they do not have rabies.
  3. Patients whose wounds are bleeding and have been brutally bitten by a dog, can be estimated that they have been bitten by a rabies victim. The first task in their treatment is injection of hemoglobin, which prevents the passage of the virus. The antibiotics are then injected periodically.

How to eliminate rabies

According to Dr Naseem Salahuddin, there is no doubt that the number of dogs has increased greatly, and this is certainly an environmental problem. Contrary to popular belief, Dr Nassim says poisoning dogs is not the solution to the problem. “This is a cruel act, but it is also safeguarding the human lives for which there can be different ways.” According to them, vaccines and sterilization are used to prevent and reduce the number of rabies diseases in dogs. She sets the example of Sri Lanka where it produced good results. “We started two pilot projects in the suburbs of Karachi in which 25,000 dogs were vaccinated and 3,000 dogs were sterilized.

According to WHO (world health organization), rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people. Education on dog behavior and bite prevention for both children and adults are an essential extension of a rabies vaccination program and can decrease both the incidence of human rabies and the financial burden of treating dog bites.

To know more about rabies its treatment and prevention visit the following site, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies.

Mati
Mati
Mati-Ullah is the Online Editor For DND. He is the real man to handle the team around the Country and get news from them and provide to you instantly.

Must read

Recent News

PM Sharif in Cop29 and Lahore at death bed in Mayo Hospital

PM Shehbaz Sharif in Cop29 Baku and Lahore in ICU in Mayo Hospital

0
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Baku discussed setting up an internationally-determined contributions (IDC) framework to redefine the global climate funding mechanisms.Addressing a roundtable discussion...
Banking scams, Cybersecurity and the usage of VPN in Pakistan

Banking scams, Cybersecurity and the usage of VPN in Pakistan

0
DND ReportHave you already been a victim of data theft from your cell phone? Have you already lost your hard-earned money from your bank...
There is no harm to change strategy in Balochistan to bring the peace

There is no harm in changing strategy in Balochistan to bring peace

0
DND ReportThere is no doubt left that Quetta Railway Station's suicide bombing targeted personnel of security forces who were leaving Quetta for their homes....

Fight against terrorism requires support of all Pakistanis, believes COAS Gen Asim Munir

0
Quetta, Pakistan:  COAS Gen Asim Munir has said that the fight against terrorism requires the support of all Pakistanis.COAS highlighted that terrorism will never...
The hidden linkages among BLA, TTP, and PTI

The hidden linkages among BLA, TTP, and PTI

0
Islamabad, Pakistan: Another targeted suicide bombing in Quetta (Railway Station) has confirmed again that enemies are not sitting idle and they do not miss...
Advertisement