Rabies studies in Rajasthan

In Kota city of Rajasthan, visiting the celebrated gardens now carries the risk of encountering packs of dogs. 

There was a rabies vaccination camp in Sirohi by an NGO where people got their dogs for vaccinations. 

A study in 2018 at an anti-rabies clinic in Jaipur on patients' information on rabies showed that over a fifth had good knowledge, another fifth had poor knowledge and the rest had 'fair' knowledge about rabies. But this cannnot be generalized to the general population of Rajasthan I feel, because :

• Residents of urban areas have access to greater knowledge than in rural settings. 
• Residents of big cities like Jaipur will be even more aware. 
• The patient has been bitten by animals so would have received counsel from family and friends already. 
• They had had the good sense or guidance to come to a specialized anti-rabies clinic rather than go to any doctor - so that shows a very heightened level of awareness. 

For these reasons, I feel that particularly in rural areas and among poor people in slums, the knowledge on rabies will be much lower than in this study. 

Even here with comparatively higher levels of awareness, just half the patients knew the name of the disease caused by a rabid animal. Only 40 % knew that bite from other animals (cat, monkey etc.) can also cause rabies. Over a third knew rabies is a communicable disease. Only a third knew that fear of water was one of the symptoms when rabies manifested in the patient. Only 25 % knew that once manifested, rabies isnt curable. Sadly, only 8 % knew that rabies can be transmitted via the saliva of an infected individual, dog or human. 

The good thing was, that more than 90 % of the patients knew that bite from a rabid dog caused disease. More than 80 % knew rabies could be prevented by vaccination. Over two-thirds knew that rabies was fatal. And nearly 60 %  knew that the site of the bite should be washed with soap and water.

Another study in Jodhpur stated : Dogs have to be immunised annually to maintain their immunisation status against rabies. This concept was not known to the residents it was the first time they were told about the same.

The supply of Ketamine Hydrochloride (an anesthetic agent) used for animal sterilization at veterinary clinics is inconsistent. Thus, Animal Birth Control activities are often interrupted.

There is no focus in India on Rabies Vaccinations for dogs - the emphasis is on birth control

There is no rabies component in India’s only official rabies control programme. Prevention of human rabies deaths by post-bite vaccination of every person that is bitten, is not rabies control. 

While WHO mandates that at least 80 per cent of dogs need to be vaccinated annually to break the cycle of transmission of Rabies, only 2.4 per cent have been vaccinated by the Animal Welfare Board of India from 2008-2017.

The ABC programme, however, mandates that ownerless dogs be left back on the streets under no supervision – how such dogs are to be identified and accurately re-immunised annually has neither been defined nor ever been attempted by the AWBI. Neither the AWBI nor the ABC programme has ever mentioned any methodology for rabies control.

There is no legal mandate in India for anti-rabies vaccinations, which would shield street dogs from contracting rabies. Instead, ‘animal birth control’ — the mass sterilization of street dogs to ensure their long-term population decline — is the status quo solution. 

However, sterilized dogs can still bite people, passing on the virus to humans and other animals. The Union health ministry continues to subsidize extremely expensive post-bite treatment for patients. These expenses should instead be directed toward animal vaccination, which has proved to be around 100 times cheaper and more effective in Asia.

Delhi's first animal welfare policy does not refer to mass anti-rabies vaccination of street dogs. 

However, the 2021 National Action Plan for Dog-mediated Rabies Elimination mentioned that the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Government of India, is assisting State Governments for canine anti Rabies vaccination under ASCAD and RKVY Schemes.

The plan aims at systematic reduction of Rabies risk through sustained mass dog vaccinations, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis and public education until the country is completely free of dog-mediated Rabies.