Srinagar, Jun 12: To raise awareness about rabies prevention and management, the Anti-Rabies Clinic of SMHS Hospital, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, has issued a public advisory highlighting the importance of timely wound care and vaccination in preventing rabies-related deaths.
As per the advisory, rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and nervous system of both humans and animals. While the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, it can be completely prevented through immediate wound washing and timely vaccination after exposure.
The virus is commonly transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, mainly through bites, scratches, or licks on broken skin and mucous membranes.
The advisory notes that India records over 17 million animal bite cases annually, with nearly 96 percent of human rabies deaths linked to dog bites.
In Jammu and Kashmir, animal bites are reported from both rural and urban areas, with dogs being the primary source of exposure. Health experts stressed that prompt wound washing and post-exposure vaccination can prevent rabies in nearly all cases.
For individuals at high risk of exposure, including veterinarians, animal handlers, laboratory staff, wildlife workers, healthcare workers and travellers to rabies-endemic areas, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is recommended.
The vaccination schedule includes doses on days 0, 7 and 21 or 28, followed by booster doses as per national guidelines.
The advisory also outlines post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for people who have been bitten or exposed to potentially rabid animals.
Unvaccinated individuals are advised to receive a full course of anti-rabies vaccination through either the intramuscular or intradermal route. In severe Category III exposures, Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) should be administered on the first day and infiltrated around the wound whenever possible.
Experts said that wound management is the first and most critical step after an animal bite. The wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, followed by the application of povidone-iodine or another suitable antiseptic.
The advisory further recommends that previously vaccinated individuals who are re-exposed to rabies receive booster doses on days 0 and 3, while RIG is not required in such cases.
Pet owners have been urged to vaccinate their dogs and cats regularly, seek veterinary check-ups, avoid allowing pets to roam freely, and prevent aggressive behaviour that may lead to bites.
Reiterating that rabies is a notifiable disease in Jammu and Kashmir, the advisory called upon the public to report all animal bites and suspected rabies cases to the nearest health facility for prompt action. The department has also issued toll-free Rabies Helpline 15400 for guidance and assistance.
