Rabies is a viral disease which is deadly yet easily preventable. It spreads through the saliva of a rabid animal. It may be dog, cat, rat, monkey etc. Even cows get infected by rabies. In India rabies generally spreads through the bite of a rabid dog. But it can be easily prevented by getting the dogs vaccinated.

Recently the EDMC came out with a rabies awareness hoardings. These hoardings were put in every colony, public places like bus stands,  markets, metro stations etc.

The hoarding mentioned that the dog should be approached carefully as it might bite and if it bites or scratches then wash the wound with soap and water and then rush to the hospital and get rabies vaccination done. This way you can prevent rabies.

Now this information is incomplete and quite misleading. Let us see how 

Firstly, it does not differentiate between a healthy and a rabid dog. A healthy dog might sometimes playfully bite or scratch. A healthy dog may bite due to several other reasons like:

1 When it feels threatened to protect itself it might bite

2 A female dog may bite to protect her pups

3 A dog may bite to protect its territory

If the dog is healthy and not rabid then its saliva is not infectious and hence no chance of being infected by rabies

Secondly, nowhere the hoarding mentioned about vaccinating the dogs. The best way to prevent rabies is by getting the dogs vaccinated. If the dog is regularly vaccinated (annually in India) there is no fear of getting rabies. The humans can freely and without any fear play and hug the dog. A bite or scratch from such a dog is just to be washed with soap and water and then an antiseptic cream has to be applied on it. If the wound is deep then may be a tetanus  injection and then  for safety sake watch the dog for 7 to 10 days as a rabid dog will die within that period.

Unfortunately such important and crucial piece of information was missing from the hoarding. The EDMC though unintentional created fear and hatred towards dogs in the minds of the people. People after seeing the hoarding are now rushing to the hospital after even getting a scratch from a vaccinated and healthy dog.

The municipal corporation in Delhi is responsible for Sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs ( ABC programme). Wouldn't it be more appropriate had they asked the RWA of every colony to assist and help them in getting the dogs of their area steriliste and vaccinated. And the RWA further had taken the help of the caregivers  / dog feeders  in Sterilization and vaccination of dogs. 

If the RWA and dog feeders are involved in the ABC programme there is a very high possibility that Delhi will become canine rabies free within a couple of years. Unfortunately both are not included in the ABC programme being run by the corporation. 

Our four legged friend from Janak Puri who was so brutally murdered could have been alive and playing with us had the RWA and the dog feeders of that area were involved in dog Sterilization and vaccination of dogs.