Indian Immunologicals organizes nationwide free animal vaccination camps

New Delhi: Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), the market leader in veterinary biologicals and one of the largest animal and human health players in India on 6th July organized free Vaccination Camps in veterinary hospital, Tis Hazari, New Delhi and over 100 centres across the country.

Every year 6th of July is observed as – “Zoonosis Day” and many Veterinary dispensaries, NGOs and Veterinarians across the country conduct Rabies awareness camps with the help of IIL. More than 1 lakh doses of RAKSHARAB (anti-rabies vaccine produced by IIL) are administered free of cost in as many as 100 centres across the country through veterinary dispensaries, NGOs etc.

The IIL (a subsidiary company of National Dairy Development Board) is leading biologicals manufacturer. Through extensive research, the company has delivered affordable vaccines for the consumers in India. IIL continues to be a leading manufacturer of animal rabies vaccine (Raksharab) and human rabies vaccine (Abhayrab) in the country. IIL’s CYSVAX is the world’s first vaccine for Porcine Cysticercosis in Pigs. Cysticercosis is a very important zoonotic disease and it is understood that it is a prime cause of epilepsy in humans. Vaccinating Pigs against Porcine Cysticercosis can help significantly reduce the incidence of epilepsy in humans.

Speaking on the occasion of World Zoonosis Day, Dr K Anand Kumar, MD, Indian Immunologicals Limited said, “IIL is truly a One Health company, playing a significant role in providing cost effective tools for the control of various zoonotic diseases in the country including the dreaded Rabies. Working with various other stake holders including the common public, IIL is determined to eradicate disease.”

Diseases that transmit from animals to human beings are called Zoonotic diseases. 70 percent of all emerging diseases that affect humans are zoonotic in nature. In India, occurrence of Rabies is prevalent and accounts for more than 90 percent of all zoonotic cases reported in the country. India accounts for more a significant number of rabies deaths reported worldwide. The economic cost of dog mediated rabies has been estimated to be $ 8.6 billion.

The high incidence of rabies in India is due to large uncontrolled stray dog population in India. Stray dogs account for nearly 80% of the canine population in India. There are several reasons for the high incidence including poor vaccination. Prophylaxis through vaccination is the most cost-effective intervention to reduce incidence of disease. Several countries have been able to reduce the number of rabies related human deaths through vaccination of dogs.

Other Zoonotic diseases such as Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, Swine Flu, Porcine Cysticercosis, Nipah, Zika etc. also affect human beings. Awareness, accurate diagnosis, improvement in sanitary conditions, prophylactic vaccination are all measures that need to be taken to restrain/eradicate spread.