Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendations
Abstract Rabies, commonly referred to as the endemic disease of the impoverished in Pakistan, remains a significant public health concern. Globally, it contributes to over 55,000 fatalities annually, with 31,000 cases reported in Asia, predominantly among children. In Karachi, the yearly occurrence...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Public Health Challenges |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.168 |
| _version_ | 1797239444133117952 |
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| author | Abdul Jabbar Attaullah Ahmadi Nimra Irm Iqra Naseeb Shekiba Madadi Don Eliseo Lucero‐Prisno III |
| author_facet | Abdul Jabbar Attaullah Ahmadi Nimra Irm Iqra Naseeb Shekiba Madadi Don Eliseo Lucero‐Prisno III |
| author_sort | Abdul Jabbar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Rabies, commonly referred to as the endemic disease of the impoverished in Pakistan, remains a significant public health concern. Globally, it contributes to over 55,000 fatalities annually, with 31,000 cases reported in Asia, predominantly among children. In Karachi, the yearly occurrence of rabies ranges between 7 and 9.8 cases per million individuals. However, the actual burden is likely underestimated due to underreporting. Key challenges in Pakistan include limited awareness and increasing dog bite incidents. To address this, comprehensive educational programs focusing on proper wound care, the ineffectiveness of homemade remedies, the importance of early medical intervention, and the administration of vaccines and post‐exposure prophylaxis are imperative. Implementing a One Health model, encompassing mass vaccination, cost‐effective treatments, training on intradermal vaccine administration, accurate data collection, and community awareness initiatives, is essential for rabies control. This article aims to provide policymakers and scholars with valuable insights into the primary factors and challenges of controlling endemic human rabies in Pakistan and proposes effective strategies for its control, with the ultimate goal of achieving rabies‐free status by 2030. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:51:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a63dfd43b4f4c00bbf055c4f547c324 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2769-2450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:51:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Challenges |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a63dfd43b4f4c00bbf055c4f547c3242024-03-27T14:02:32ZengWileyPublic Health Challenges2769-24502024-03-0131n/an/a10.1002/puh2.168Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendationsAbdul Jabbar0Attaullah Ahmadi1Nimra Irm2Iqra Naseeb3Shekiba Madadi4Don Eliseo Lucero‐Prisno III5Department of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Punjab PakistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus Pattoki Punjab PakistanInstitute of Microbiology Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Punjab PakistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanDepartment of Global Health and Development London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London UKAbstract Rabies, commonly referred to as the endemic disease of the impoverished in Pakistan, remains a significant public health concern. Globally, it contributes to over 55,000 fatalities annually, with 31,000 cases reported in Asia, predominantly among children. In Karachi, the yearly occurrence of rabies ranges between 7 and 9.8 cases per million individuals. However, the actual burden is likely underestimated due to underreporting. Key challenges in Pakistan include limited awareness and increasing dog bite incidents. To address this, comprehensive educational programs focusing on proper wound care, the ineffectiveness of homemade remedies, the importance of early medical intervention, and the administration of vaccines and post‐exposure prophylaxis are imperative. Implementing a One Health model, encompassing mass vaccination, cost‐effective treatments, training on intradermal vaccine administration, accurate data collection, and community awareness initiatives, is essential for rabies control. This article aims to provide policymakers and scholars with valuable insights into the primary factors and challenges of controlling endemic human rabies in Pakistan and proposes effective strategies for its control, with the ultimate goal of achieving rabies‐free status by 2030.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.168dog biteshealth policyhealth systemLyssavirusPakistanrabies |
| spellingShingle | Abdul Jabbar Attaullah Ahmadi Nimra Irm Iqra Naseeb Shekiba Madadi Don Eliseo Lucero‐Prisno III Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendations Public Health Challenges dog bites health policy health system Lyssavirus Pakistan rabies |
| title | Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendations |
| title_full | Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendations |
| title_fullStr | Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendations |
| title_short | Rabies in Pakistan: Policies and recommendations |
| title_sort | rabies in pakistan policies and recommendations |
| topic | dog bites health policy health system Lyssavirus Pakistan rabies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.168 |
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