'70,000 people die annually from rabies'

As many as 70,000 people die annually from rabies which causes a loss of million of dollars to us. Rabies is a killer disease, which is being caused by 90 per cent dog bite around the globe but it can be prevented through proper vaccination.
This was stated by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Athar Khan while addressing a seminar on "How easy rabies is to prevent" on Wednesday at university auditorium. The seminar was organised by UVAS in collaboration with Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Sadat international. University diagnostic lab director Professor Dr Masroor Elahi Baber, chairman epidemalogy Professor Dr Mansoor-ud-Din Khan, Professor Dr Alaeem Bhatti, controller examination Sajjad Haider, chairman department pathology Professor Dr Asim Aslam and incharge pet center Asim Khalid were also present on the occasion.
Professor Dr Athar Khan said that fifth World rabies day was celebrated with the aim to raise awareness of the impact of human and animal rabies and to emphasise how easy rabies is to prevent. Around 95 percent of human cases are caused by bites from infected dogs are being reported in Pakistan. These cases are preventable through proper vaccination of pet and feral dogs. He added that 20,000 deaths took place in India annually. Professor Dr Athar Khan urged the comedian actors to play their due role to promote rabies prevention and awareness for the sake of remote areas. According to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) report it also confirmed rabies as one of the most lethal zoonotic, or animal-transmitted diseases, killing more people each year than Sars, H5N1 and Dengue fever, combined. He also suggested that dog vaccination programmes have been carried out in conjunction with an improvement in educational awareness and availability of human vaccines, deaths from rabies have been reduced to zero.
In charge Pet Center Asim Khaid said Rabies is a fatal disease. It is dire need to launch comprehensive campaign to educate the general public how to save the precious lives. Dr Asim explained that 'Rabies' is derived from Latin word which means 'madness'. It is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) in warm-blooded animals. It is transmitted by animals, especially by a bite from an infected animal most commonly infected dog. For humans, rabies is certainly fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis (anti-rabies) vaccination is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system eventually causing disease in the brain and death.
Earlier, to mark the World rabies day university faculty member and students walked insight the university campus to create awareness among general public on the current rabies situation as well as measures that will be carried out for the purpose to control the rabies. The walk participants were holing banners and placards. The veterinarian examined animals and pets and gave free vaccination at UVAS pet center.