Rabies continues to be a major public health problem, as it was in antiquity. Unfortunately, on a global scale, there are at least 60,000 reported deaths per year due to rabies, which is a grossly underreported disease. Rabies is the tenth leading cause of death due to infectious disease on a world-wide basis. This is due to the reservoir of infected dogs in underdeveloped countries (and the lack of resources to accomplish control or mass vaccination of dogs), and the unavailability of post exposure prohylaxis in poor or remote regions. Though canine rabies has been controlled in the developing countries, it is responsible for more than 30, 000 deaths per year in developing countries. WHO reported many countries are rabies-free.e.g. Japan, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Ice-land, Purtugal, New Zealand, Australia etc. in India, Andman-Nicobar and Lakshdweep Island are free of disease due to successful eradication programmed because of strict quarantine regulations.
This book provides essential worldwide information regarding rabies for public health officials, veterinarians, physicians, virologists, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, laboratory diagnosticians, and wildlife biologists. This is a comprehensive book, dealing with the rabies virus, structure of virus, history of rabies, transmission of virus, incubation period, the molecular virology, immunopathology, epidemiology, pathology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations in humans and animals and diagnosis of the disease, treatment after biting or licking by dog including vaccination, control of disease, as well as preventive measures in humans and animals and tips for children etc. The strength of the book lies in the multidisciplinary view of experts in medicine, pathology, virology, immunology, epidemiology and veterinary medicine. It will be a useful collection for medical and veterinary clinicians, veterinary students, science students, public health workers and research scientists involved in the diagnosis, prevention of rabies and also very knowledegeable for general people.
Dr. Neelu Gupta is Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Anjora, Durg, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.). For the last 19 years, she has been teaching in Veterinary Pathology (12 years) to undergraduate and post graduate students, and Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology (7 years) to undergraduate students. She obtain B.V.Sc. & A.H., M.V.Sc. & A.H. and Ph.D. from Jabalpur. His main research work contribution are to the study of histopathology of numerous tumors, inflammation in buffalo calves and now from last 7 years engaged in the study of water quality, assessment of milk adulteration and bacteriological quality of milk in Chhattisgarh region. She has contributed 60 research papers. She has also written a book “A guide of milk hygiene and public health” which is in press.
