Nisha Pandey

Can India Prevent Rabies Deaths By Vaccinating Dogs? Lancet Study Says Kerala May Reach Near-Zero Deaths In 3 Years

India Could Prevent Rabies Deaths By Vaccinating Dogs, Not Just People: Lancet Study

One of the most effective ways to prevent <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/rabies">rabies</a></span> deaths could be by vaccinating dogs rather than just people before they are bitten. A new study published in <em>The <span rel="noindex">Lancet</span> Regional Health – Southeast Asia</em> modelled different strategies in <span>Kerala</span> for eradicating human rabies deaths between 2026 and 2035.

The study found that mass vaccination of dogs could bring the annual rabies deaths among people in Kerala close to zero within about three years even if 70% of the dog population were vaccinated. 

On the other hand, vaccinating children before exposure to rabies was projected to prevent relatively few additional deaths at substantially higher cost. 

India carries one of the worst largest rabies burdens. That's why the study could point towards a feasible and practical solution to eradicate the deadly infection. 

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/bat-encounter-while-sleeping-why-you-shouldnt-ignore-the-risk-of-rabies-article-156020124" data-type="tilCustomLink">Rabies</a> is a deadly viral infection that attacks the central nervous system. Once clinical symptoms appear, it is almost invariably fatal. But rabies is also preventable. 

Most human rabies deaths in India are linked to bites from infected dogs. This means that the disease can be tackled at its source by reducing transmission among dogs.

India records an estimated 9.1 million animal bites every year, with more than three-quarters caused by dogs. A 2024 estimate from the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute of Epidemiology estimates India's annual human rabies deaths to be about 5,726, which is an alarming public health issue. 

The study puts emphasis on the fact that vaccinating a person after a bite protects that individual, whereas, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-petting-zoo-visitors-warned-after-4-goats-test-positive-for-rabies-why-rabies-is-almost-fatal-without-treatment-article-156016071" data-type="tilCustomLink">vaccinating dogs</a> reduces the probability that an infected dog will transmit rabies to many people in the first place.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/bhutan-eliminates-rabies-while-india-battles-persistent-deaths-what-can-india-learn-from-its-neighbour-article-156103324" data-type="tilCustomLink">Bhutan Eliminates Rabies While India Battles Persistent Deaths: What Can India Learn From Its Neighbour?</a>

Researchers from the University of Glasgow, Kerala's health and animal-husbandry departments, Kerala University of Health Sciences and the London School of Economics and Political Science used mathematical modelling to compare different <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/the-difference-between-zoonotic-non-zoonotic-and-reverse-zoonotic-diseases-article-151134152" data-type="tilCustomLink">strategies to combat rabies</a> in Kerala.

One strategy was routine pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for children. Another focused on mass dog vaccination, while the model also considered improvements to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), the treatment given after a potentially rabid bite.

The researchers found that adding routine childhood PrEP provided minimal additional protection, preventing fewer than 10 deaths on average over a decade, while costing considerably more than strategies focused on controlling rabies transmission among dogs. 

The model estimated that achieving 70% vaccination coverage among dogs could reduce annual human rabies deaths in Kerala to near zero within approximately three years.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/abhayrab-rabies-vaccine-batch-found-misbranded-not-of-standard-quality-dcgi-alerts-states-article-156095134" data-type="tilCustomLink">Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine Batch Found Misbranded, ‘Not Of Standard Quality’: DCGI Alerts States</a>

<h2>India's Alarming Rabies Situation </h2>

HPV Vaccine for Girls: Safety, Fertility & Cervical Cancer Explained

One of the study's striking findings was about the size of Kerala's stray-dog population. The researchers' modelling suggested that the state's actual <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/australia-issues-advisory-warning-travelers-of-counterfeit-rabies-vaccines-found-in-india-article-153356739" data-type="tilCustomLink">stray-dog population</a> could be around five times higher than official census estimates.

If vaccination programmes are based on an underestimated dog population, authorities could believe they have reached adequate coverage while a large proportion of dogs remain unvaccinated. That creates what epidemiologists call an immunity gap, allowing rabies transmission to continue.

Additionally, dog vaccination does not make human post-exposure treatment unnecessary. If a person is bitten or scratched by an animal that could have rabies, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water and medical care should be sought immediately.

Depending on the exposure, PEP can include rabies vaccine and <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/36-of-rabies-death-comes-from-india-this-is-what-you-should-do-after-a-dog-bite-explains-doctor-article-153355760" data-type="tilCustomLink">rabies immunoglobulin (RIG)</a>. This is particularly important because rabies becomes extremely difficult to treat once symptoms begin.

The study also found that improving timely access to PEP could prevent more deaths than expanding routine pre-exposure vaccination of children.

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One of the most effective ways to prevent rabies deaths could be by vaccinating dogs rather than just people before they are bitten. A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia modelled different strategies in Kerala for eradicating human rabies deaths between 2026 and 2035.The study found that mass vaccination of dogs could bring the annual rabies deaths among people in Kerala close to zero within about three years even if 70% of the dog population were vaccinated. On the other hand, vaccinating children before exposure to rabies was projected to prevent relatively few additional deaths at substantially higher cost. India carries one of the worst largest rabies burdens. That's why the study could point towards a feasible and practical solution to eradicate the deadly infection. Could Vaccinating Dogs Help?Rabies is a deadly viral infection that attacks the central nervous system. Once clinical symptoms appear, it is almost invariably fatal. But rabies is also preventable. Most human rabies deaths in India are linked to bites from infected dogs. This means that the disease can be tackled at its source by reducing transmission among dogs.India records an estimated 9.1 million animal bites every year, with more than three-quarters caused by dogs. A 2024 estimate from the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute of Epidemiology estimates India's annual human rabies deaths to be about 5,726, which is an alarming public health issue. The study puts emphasis on the fact that vaccinating a person after a bite protects that individual, whereas, vaccinating dogs reduces the probability that an infected dog will transmit rabies to many people in the first place.Also read: Bhutan Eliminates Rabies While India Battles Persistent Deaths: What Can India Learn From Its Neighbour?About The Study Researchers from the University of Glasgow, Kerala's health and animal-husbandry departments, Kerala University of Health Sciences and the London School of Economics and Political Science used mathematical modelling to compare different strategies to combat rabies in Kerala.One strategy was routine pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for children. Another focused on mass dog vaccination, while the model also considered improvements to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), the treatment given after a potentially rabid bite.The researchers found that adding routine childhood PrEP provided minimal additional protection, preventing fewer than 10 deaths on average over a decade, while costing considerably more than strategies focused on controlling rabies transmission among dogs. The model estimated that achieving 70% vaccination coverage among dogs could reduce annual human rabies deaths in Kerala to near zero within approximately three years.Also read: Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine Batch Found Misbranded, ‘Not Of Standard Quality’: DCGI Alerts StatesIndia's Alarming Rabies Situation             One of the study's striking findings was about the size of Kerala's stray-dog population. The researchers' modelling suggested that the state's actual stray-dog population could be around five times higher than official census estimates.If vaccination programmes are based on an underestimated dog population, authorities could believe they have reached adequate coverage while a large proportion of dogs remain unvaccinated. That creates what epidemiologists call an immunity gap, allowing rabies transmission to continue.Additionally, dog vaccination does not make human post-exposure treatment unnecessary. If a person is bitten or scratched by an animal that could have rabies, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water and medical care should be sought immediately.Depending on the exposure, PEP can include rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). This is particularly important because rabies becomes extremely difficult to treat once symptoms begin.The study also found that improving timely access to PEP could prevent more deaths than expanding routine pre-exposure vaccination of children.

can india prevent rabies deaths by vaccinating dogs? lancet says kerala may reach near-zero deaths in 3 years

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Can India Prevent Rabies Deaths By Vaccinating Dogs? Lancet Study Says Kerala May Reach Near-Zero Deaths In 3 Years

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