Breaking Dangerous Myth About Rabies
Summary
A public-health warning highlights the danger of assuming young puppies cannot transmit rabies, after a child in Kavrepalanchowk died from the disease following a bite from a two-month-old puppy. The article urges immediate wound washing, prompt vaccination, and stronger One Health coordination to eliminate dog-mediated rabies in Nepal.
Key Points
- A common myth that puppies cannot carry rabies can delay treatment and put lives at risk.
- A boy in Kavrepalanchowk district died of rabies in 2019 after a bite from a very young puppy, while a nurse bitten by the same dog survived after completing vaccination.
- Nepal provides free anti-rabies vaccine up to the primary health center level, but awareness remains low and rabies still causes about 100 deaths a year in the country.
- The article calls for a One Health approach, including dog vaccination, surveillance, responsible ownership, and community education, to support the global Zero by 30 goal.
