World Rabies Day: five things to do immediately if bitten by a dog or animal

World Rabies Day is observed globally every year on September 28. The day marks the death anniversary of the noted French microbiologist and vaccine researcher Louis Pasteur, who discovered the first effective vaccine against rabies. Rabies is an extremely dangerous viral disease that attacks the central nervous system. Once symptoms appear in the body, death is almost certain. But timely precaution, vaccination of pet animals and prompt first aid can prevent rabies completely. Spreading this message widely is the purpose of the day.

Rabies mainly spreads through the saliva of an infected animal. When a dog, cat, monkey, wolf or bat infected with rabies bites, scratches or licks an open wound on a person, the virus enters the body. In India and other Asian countries, 99 percent of human rabies cases are caused by dog bites. The virus travels slowly through the nerves to the brain. Once it reaches the brain, the patient develops a fear of water, a fear of air, becomes highly irritable, and eventually dies due to swelling in the brain.

People often ignore an animal bite or a minor scratch, or try wrong home remedies such as applying chilli, turmeric, lime or mud on the wound. This greatly increases the risk of infection. Whenever a stray or pet animal bites, it is important to follow the medical steps given below exactly.

First, clean the wound immediately. As soon as an animal bites, the wound should be washed continuously under running tap water with any soap available at home for at least 15 minutes. The alkaline elements in soap help destroy the outer layer of the rabies virus.

Second, use an antiseptic. After washing and drying the wound, an antiseptic such as Dettol, Savlon or povidone-iodine should be applied.

Third, keep the wound open. A wound from an animal bite should never be tightly bandaged, and stitches should be avoided unless absolutely necessary, as this can push the virus closer to the nerves.

Fourth, consult a doctor immediately and get vaccinated. Under all circumstances, a course of the anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) should be started within 24 hours at a nearby government or private hospital.

Fifth, immunoglobulin. If the animal has bitten severely (a category 3 bite), an injection of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) directly into the wound site, along with the vaccine and as advised by a doctor, is essential, as it immediately neutralises the virus.

The easiest and safest way to eliminate rabies is to break the chain of the virus at the level of animals. It is the moral and social responsibility of every pet owner to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies at three months of age and give a booster dose every year. Mass dog vaccination and animal birth control for stray dogs are also necessary. If more than 70 percent of dogs in an area are successfully vaccinated, the risk of human rabies in that area is eliminated completely.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have jointly set a global target called "Zero by 30", aiming to bring human deaths from dog-mediated rabies to zero worldwide between 2023 and 2030. This is being pursued through the "One Health" concept, under which human health, animal health and environment departments work together.

Collective responsibility, giving up superstition and timely vaccination can together build a rabies-free and safer society. Remember, rabies still has no guaranteed cure, but a timely vaccine remains the only and best protection against it.