Kolkata, July 6 (IBNS) Hundreds of people got their pet animals vaccinated for Rabies on Friday on the occasion of World Zoonoses Day at a camp organised by the largest animal vaccine maker Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) in a West Bengal district.
The mobile vaccination camp started from Ward Office of the Naihati Municipal Corporation in North 24 Parganas district.
The camp was inaugurated by Dr. Rudra Deb Mukherjee-Deputy Director, Animal Health of North 24 Parganas and Ramesh Chandra Haldar, Chairman, Bhatpara Municipality.
Rabies is one of the most dreaded killer diseases in the country, normally transmitted from dogs to human beings.
Every year, globally more than 55,000 people die from rabies of which a whopping 30,000 deaths (55%) take place in India, according to the World Health Organisation.
“The enormity of deaths could be attributed to a lack of awareness about rabies, its causes and available treatment options," said Amitabha Bose Roy, West Bengal & North East Incharge at IIL.
"The only way to prevent this dangerous disease is to take preventive vaccination. It is all the more important that those who have to handle animals on a daily basis such as farmers, pet owners etc are at high risk and must vaccinate their animals and themselves,” said Bose Roy.
Zoonoses Day is globally observed every year to remind the masses to get their pet animals vaccinated to prevent the spread of Zoonotic diseases including rabies, leptospirosis, brucellosis etc from the animals to humans.
Organisations, governments, NGOs and institutions observe Zoonoses Day all over the world by conducting public awareness programmes.
Rabies is also transmitted from other animals including cats, bats, fox, wolves etc, although 96% of rabies related deaths originated from dog bites.
