title: An epidemiological study of animal bites in India: results of a WHO sponsored national multi-centric rabies survey.
abstract: This was a WHO sponsored national multi-centric rabies survey and one of its objectives was to find out the incidence of animal bites, anti-rabies treatment practices, Pet dog population and their care. Twenty-one medical colleges chosen with geoscatter representation conducted the survey during February-August, 2003. The survey was conducted in 18 states, covering a population of 52,731 chosen randomly from 8500 households. The annual incidence of animal bites was high, 1.7% and it was more in rural areas (1.8%), children (2.6%) and poor/low income group (75%). The main biting animal was dog (91.5%), mostly stray (63%), followed by cat (4.7%). A high proportion of bite victims did not wash their wounds with soap and water (39.5%), preferred Government hospitals (59.9%) and nerve tissue vaccine (46.9%). The use of rabies immunoglobulin was low (2.1%). A single animal bite episode led to a loss of 2.2 man-days and the cost of medicines including anti-rabies vaccine was Rs.252 (US$6). The recourse to indigenous treatment (45.3%) and local application to wound (36.8%/) was quite prevalent. About 17% of households reported having a pet/domesticated dog and the pet dog: man ratio was 1: 36. Pet dog care/management practices were not satisfactory with a low veterinary consultation (35.5%) and vaccination (32.9%). The situation was slightly better in urban areas. The people also reported the presence (83%) and menace (22.8%) of stray dogs. It is recommended to initiate appropriate community awareness and dog vaccination campaigns and effective stray dog control measures.
authors: Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI).
authors: M K
authors: MK
authors: Sudarshan
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Mahendra
authors: S N
authors: SN
authors: Madhusudana
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Ashwoath Narayana
authors: Abdul
authors: A
authors: Rahman
authors: N S N
authors: NS
authors: Rao
authors: F
authors: F
authors: X-Meslin
authors: Derek
authors: D
authors: Lobo
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ravikumar
authors: Gangaboraiah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014611:Vaccination; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines