Opinion | A ticking rabies bomb
Summary
Rabies infections are increasingly detected among stray dogs in Kathmandu, posing a significant public health risk due to insufficient vaccination and control efforts, with cases rising despite vaccine availability.
Key Points
- A puppy rescued in Bhaktapur tested positive for rabies, indicating a wider spread of the virus among street dogs in Kathmandu.
- Several human rabies cases, including deaths, have been reported in Kathmandu and surrounding areas due to dog bites and inadequate post-exposure treatment.
- There is no clear government framework for the management and vaccination of stray dogs, contributing to the challenge of rabies control.
- Domestic dogs vaccinated against rabies have still tested positive, possibly due to substandard vaccines or exposure to infected stray dogs.
