Abstract

Rabies is one of the oldest known diseases. It is found in nearly all parts of the world and in all climates. It has not so far been introduced into Australia or New Zealand and has been stamped out of the British Isles by the destruction of all animals infected with the disease, or suspected to be so infected, by the muzzling order, and by strict quarantine regulations concerning the import of dogs. Once the symptoms have developed, it ends fatally almost always. It is also a source of imminent danger to human life and domestic animals, causing considerable economic loss. To apply suitable measures of control against this disease it is essential as in the case of many other diseases, to have a thorough public awakening. Rabies is primarily a disease of wild and domesticated canines, e. g. dogs. jackals, foxes and wolves, but all the warm-blooded animals like cattle, horses, goats, sheep, cats, monkeys, rabbits, camels, elephants, fowls and human beings are susceptible. Infected canines particularly parish dogs, so widely and exten- sively distributed in India, spread the disease among themselves and other susce ptible animals and human beings. The mongoose and blood sucking (Vampire) bat have been reported to net as a natural reservoir of rabies virus in South Africa and South America respectively and to convey the infection to domesti- cated animals and human beings; but in India the virus is usually maintained by wild carnivores and stray dogs.

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