An epidemiological study of rabies in Bangalore city

This multicentric study was conducted with the aim of knowing the nature and magnitude of the problem of rabies in Bangalore city. The disease was enzootic and endemic and the principal reservoir of infection was dog. There was stray dog menace due to ineffective dog control measures. Nearly 30% of animal bite victims did not wash their wounds and about 60% of patients started antirabic vaccine late after 24 hours of bite. The antirabies serum (equine) was not available at all. The victims of hydrophobia were both children (37.5%) and adults (62.5%) and the average incubation period ranged from 35-111 days. Pre-exposure antirabic vaccination was not given to dog catching and dog pound staff. Lastly, there was lack of proper laboratory diagnostic facilities for rabies in Bangalore.