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Rajnandgaon, September 27, 2025: The Chhattisgarh Animal Husbandry Department today appealed to all household pets, dogs, cats, and other animals, to receive anti-rabies vaccinations on World Rabies Day tomorrow to prevent rabies from animal bites.
To prevent rabies from animal bites, dogs should be vaccinated at three months of age, followed by the Buster vaccine, and then annually, Deputy Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Pratibha Bhosale said.
Free anti-rabies vaccination campaigns are periodically conducted at the District Veterinary Hospital.
She explained that rabies is a virus that is usually spread by animal bites. Its symptoms take a long time to appear, and if delayed, it can be fatal. If people become aware of it early, it can be prevented to a large extent.
Dr. Tarun Ramteke, in-charge of the District Veterinary Hospital, stated that 97 per cent of rabies cases are caused by infected dog bites. In addition to infected dogs, the disease can also be contracted by bites or scratches from other wild animals, including cats, monkeys, mongooses, foxes, and jackals.
Rabies symptoms include fever, headache, excessive salivation, loss of common sense, mental disturbances, violent behavior, hyperexcitability, making strange noises, hydrophobia (fear of water), self-absorption, tingling sensations in the body, limb weakness, and paralysis.
He advised that in the event of an animal bite, the bite area should be thoroughly cleaned with soap or an antiseptic lotion without delay. Afterward, contact a nearby doctor and get the rabies vaccine within 48 hours without delay.
Dr. Ramteke explained that symptoms of rabies infection can appear after several days or even years. If an animal bites near the neck or head, the infection spreads quickly. The initial symptoms of rabies usually include a tingling sensation at the site of the bite. Additionally, complaints such as fever, loss of appetite, and headache may also develop. Anyone bitten by an animal should consult a doctor as soon as possible and receive an anti-rabies vaccine.
