Human rabies in India: epidemiological features, management and current methods of prevention.
In most endemic countries stray dogs are the main source of rabies infection in humans. In India 95-97% of rabies patients are infected by dogs. Most pet dogs do not regularly receive booster doses of vaccine. In Thailand, most rabies patients develop the disease within 1 month of exposure. Rabies immunoglobulin is costly and usually not available. So in India nervous tissue vaccine is commonly used--it is inexpensive and freely available despite frequent neurological complications. The cost of immunization by tissue culture vaccines may be reduced by nearly 60% by intradermal vaccination.
Dutta
J K
JK
Amarnath Polyclinic, Balasore, India.
D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D014195:Travel