Rabies is not curable, it is only preventable

HYDERABAD: The fear of being infected with rabies has brougth about a widespread panic among people. Cases of rabies victims are being reported almost everyday. They has been a dramatic rise in the number of dog bites and deaths due to rabies. According to P V Ramesh, prinicipal secretary, health, there have been 11 deaths due to rabies as on June 2011 as compared to 23 deaths reported in 2010. Dog bite victims are thronging various hospitals across the city to avail anti-rabies vaccines. These vaccines are available both at the private and government clinics. To name a few, Verocell, Rakhsharab, Verorab and a few places, where they are available are the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Narayanguda, Institue of Tropical Diseases, commonly known as Fever hospital in Nallakunta, Osmania General Hospital, Gandhi Hospital and five maternity centres in Amberpet, Lalapet, Jangammet, Sriramnagar and Pani-pura. Dr Vijay Kumar Mansabdar, a doctor, says, “Rabies is not curable, it is only preventable. Once the disease manifests the body, it is very harmful,” and adds, “One cannot control rabies by killing stray dogs. The disease has to be curbed, not the stray dog population.” In addition, he says, “It can be prevented only when stray dogs are caught and instead of killing them, they should be vaccinated. This will reduce the number of cases of death due to rabies to a great extent.”“First-aid is very much imporatant, as treating the wound in the initial stages will not lead to worsening it. Small measures have to be implemented,” says PV Ramesh. But, how many have access to these facilities? How do they reach a vaccination centre, if they are a little remotely located? Are they even aware of the first-aid tips after a dog bite?“After a dog bite, it is essential to take an anti-rebies immunoglobin, but following first-aid measures like washing the wound immediately with soap and water, will reduce the chances of getting rabies by 90 per cent,” says Chakrapani Reddy, veterinary officer, south zone, GHMC adding,  “Treating a bite as an open wound, is very essential. There should be no sutures on it.”