Rabies is endemic in Pakistan, with human infections being mostly due to the dog bite and cases are mostly diagnosed on clinical grounds only. Although no data on human rabies cases is available at the national level but it was estimated that 2,000 to 5,000 people die of rabies every year. Human rabies is not a notifiable disease in Pakistan and there is also no nationally coordinated response to the diseases and its surveillance.
In the past, globally all stress was being given on the management of dog bite and rabies with introduction newer and cost-effective vaccines. Despite all this, the overall treatment cost of dog bite cases is high and beyond the reach of many countries. However, now there has been a shift in the rabies elimination and now there is more focus on dog vaccination (both Pet and stray dogs). It is estimated that this cost is many folds less than the treatment of dog bite cases. Dr Huma Qureshi, ED. PHRC has been nominated as National Focal person for Zoonosis and she is working on Rabies prevention and control in Pakistan.
World Rabies Day:
The World Rabies Day is celebrated in the world on 28th of September 2016. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control this year proposed the theme "Educate, vaccinate, eliminate". PHRC being the focal point for zoonosis in Pakistan is celebrating 28th September as "World Rabies Day". Information brochure on rabies (preventive measures and what to do in case of dog bite) has been developed and these will be disseminated to general public in Public parks of Islamabad (Daman-e-Koh, Fatima Jinnah Park F9, Shakar Parian and Lake View Park).
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