“Madhusudana-Bharti-Uppinder” Protocol for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in animals in Himachal Pradesh, India saves lives and economy of rural India

Abstract

Livestock are backbone of rural economy but always a neglected area. In a survey done in Ethiopia, the estimated rabies cases incidence was 1.75 in bovines, 18 in dogs, 2.37 in equines, 2.28 in cats and 0.37 in shoats per 10,000 animals annually.[i] The annual cost of livestock losses due to rabies is also substantial: approximately US$ 12.3 million (90% CI, 11–13.7 million)[ii] in endemic Africa and Asia, disproportionately affecting the rural poor who depend upon livestock for subsistence. In 2016, 7 of 21 bovine bitten by rabid dogs died due to rabies in Shimla Municipality in Himachal Pradesh who were given only IM rabies vaccination as PEP. This scenario prompted the authors to look for a suitable protocol, based on human studies, to save animals.