ONE HEALTH APPROACH IN RABIES ELIMINATION

Ms.Komal Khushalrao Tambe , Miss.Mayuri Balu Mokal , Mr.D.K.Vir , Ms.Darshana Panjabrao Theng , Mr.Ritesh Sachin Dound

Rabies,Dog, Human,vaccine, Lyssaviruses, Wild animals

Rabies is one of the oldest known infectious diseases, with historical records tracing back violent symptoms seen in infected individuals. In ancient Greece, it was also referred to as lyssa, which means frenzy.Rabies is a zoonotic viral infection capable of affecting humans as well as all mammals, including domestic pets, livestock, and wild animals.Louis Pasteur (1885) A major breakthrough came when Louis Pasteur developed the first rabies vaccine using an attenuated virus. The first successful treatment was given to Joseph Meister, a boy bitten by a rabid dog, marking a milestone in medical history.Rabies is a zoonotic infection that can be prevented through vaccination and still causes considerable deaths across the globe. Long-term vaccination programs targeting wild animals have successfully brought rabies under control in Western Europe, largely by creating a vaccination barrier along the borders with rabies-endemic regions of Eastern Europe.For centuries, rabies has had a profound impact on human society and remains among the rare diseases with an almost universally fatal outcome once clinical symptoms appear.The rabies virus, like other members of the Lyssavirus genus, is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.Lyssaviruses show a strong preference for nerve tissue and typically gain entry into the nervous system only after the skin barrier is broken.Passive immunity plays an essential role in protecting the body, both naturally and through medical treatment, by reducing the harmful impact of infectious agents and toxins, as seen in conditions like rabies and tetanus.Novel rabies vaccines refer to new-generation formulations developed to overcome the limitations of traditional nerve-tissue and cell-culture vaccines. These modern vaccines are designed to improve safety, immunogenicity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of administration.The World Health Organization (WHO) considers rabies a preventable yet neglected zoonotic disease that continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths each year, mainly in Asia and Africa. WHO emphasizes that rabies can be eliminated through a "One Health" approach, which integrates mass dog vaccination, improved human post-exposure prophylaxis, public awareness, and stronger health systems.The organization, together with global partners, has set the target of achieving ."Zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030."

Volume 13 Issue 11, November-2025

Pages : h198-h204