Indian Immunologicals (IIL) has conducted free anti-rabies vaccination to over a lakh canine across the country on the eve of the Zoonosis Day. Diseases that are transmitted from animals to human and vice-versa are known as Zoonotic diseases. According to the statement published, this was a large drive to create social awareness about “One Health”, which means healthy co-existence of animals, human beings and ecosystem.
IIL is a vaccine manufacturer and a “One Health” company producing human and animal health vaccines including vaccines for various zoonotic diseases. Every year on 6 of July, which is also observed as “World Zoonosis Day”, IIL engages many Veterinary dispensaries, NGOs and Veterinarians across the country conduct Rabies awareness camps. IIL conducted free vaccination camps to administer more than one lakh doses of RAKSHARAB (anti-rabies vaccine produced by IIL) in as many as 100 centres across 21 states in the country through veterinary dispensaries, NGOs etc.
70 per cent of all emerging diseases such as Rabies, Swine Flu, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, Porcine Cysticercosis, Nipah, Zika etc that affect humans are zoonotic in nature. In India, occurrence of Rabies is prevalent and accounts for more than 90 per cent of all zoonotic cases reported in the country. India accounts for significant number of rabies deaths reported worldwide. The economic cost of dog mediated rabies has been estimated at $ 8.6 billion (as per WHO).
The high incidence of rabies in India is due to large stray dog population in India, which is estimated at about 60 million and significantly lower rate of vaccination. Prophylaxis through vaccination is the most cost-effective intervention to reduce incidence of disease. Several countries have been able to reduce the number of rabies related human deaths through vaccination of dogs.