ABOUT THE DISEASE
Rabies is one of the oldest diseases known to man and has been widely documented by the earliest human civilizations. As per historians, the origin of the word Rabies is either from the Sanskrit “rabhas” (to do violence) or the Latin “rabere” (to rage). The ancient Greeks called Rabies “lyssa” (violence). A disease akin to Rabies was recognized in ancient Indian treatises on health and medicine. The Susruta Samhita (Susruta’s Compendium) details various medical conditions and surgical procedures and discusses in detail the symptoms of Rabies in humans bitten by rabid dogs or wild animals, recognizing that once symptoms develop in human victims, the disease is inevitably fatal. The Mughal emperor Jahangir (1569–1627) is recorded to have noted the symptoms of Rabies in an elephant that he owned
Symptoms
Rabies is one of the most fatal zoonotic diseases. Initial symptoms can include anxiety, headaches and fever. As the disease progresses, there may be hallucinations and respiratory failure. Spasms of the muscles used for swallowing make it difficult for the patient to drink. The incubation period between being infected and showing symptoms is between 3 and 12 weeks, depending on the site of the initial infection.
Transmission
It is transmitted after the bite of a rabid animal and is 100% fatal if the timely intervention in terms of appropriate management of wound and Rabies post exposure is not given to the animal bite victims. About 96% of the mortality due to Rabies is associated with dog bites.
Mortality
As per WHO estimates, globally, there are 59,000 human deaths due to dog-mediated rabies. India contributes to one-third of the total global burden due to rabies and two-third of rabies burden in the South East Asia Region as per the WHO-APCRI 2004 Survey
India: The Rabies Capital of the World
India is lagging behind many smaller countries of South Asia such as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, etc. in tackling the spread of rabies. In India, Rabies is endemic in all States/UTs except Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands, and 96% of the mortality and morbidity due to Rabies is associated with dog bites. Although Rabies affects people of all age groups, children are the most vulnerable which constitutes 40% of people exposed to dog bites in Rabies-endemic areas.