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 today organized free Vaccination Camps in 100 centres across the country.

Every year July 6^th is observed as the “World Zoonosis Day” and many Veterinary dispensaries, NGOs and Veterinarians across the country conduct rabies awareness camps with the help of IIL. More than one lakh doses of RAKSHARAB (Rabies vaccine produced by IIL) is administered free of cost in as many as 100 centres across the country through veterinary dispensaries, NGOs etc. IIL is the only veterinary vaccine company consistently offering this benevolent service to the society every year.

Diseases that transmit from animals to human beings are called Zoonotic diseases. Out of all microbial pathogens above 60% causes Zoonotic diseases, while 75% of all emerging diseases are zoonotic in nature. However, occurrence of Rabies is predominant and is more than 90% of all zoonotic cases in the country. India accounts for more than 30000 rabies related deaths per year, which is almost 1/3^rd of all the cases in the world. This is due to large uncontrolled stray dog population in India. Out of about 40 million dog population in India, stray dogs account for nearly 80% of population. Due to lack of systematic vaccination and infrastructure to control stray dogs, the Rabies menace is consistently increasing in India.

Speaking on the occasion of Zoonosis Day, Dr K Anand Kumar, MD, IIL informed that – “IILhas been playing a major supportive role in controlling Rabies and other Zoonotic diseases in the country. IIL is not just a leading manufacturer and supplier of Rabies vaccine for both human and animal use, it also contributes significantly in creating awareness about its menace among the general public along with free vaccination services”.

Other diseases such as Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, Swine Flu, Porcine Cysticercosis etc are predominant diseases that affects human beings and many people suffer from these diseases in India. Due to lack of awareness, often due to improper medical care or preventive medicines andunhygienic conditions, these diseases are spreading across the country. With increased coverage of preventive vaccination and improved hygiene, these diseases can be controlled.

Indian Immunologicals Limited is No.1 in Veterinary Biologicals in India and is among the top animal health companies in India. IIL is always in the forefront of animal vaccine research and has delivered affordable vaccines for the consumers in India. IIL is also the leading human anti-rabies vaccine manufacturer in India and indigenously developed country first tissue culture rabies vaccine- ABHAYRAB. IIL introduced vaccines to preventseveral zoonotic diseases and are currently marketed in the country. The latest one is a vaccine (CYSVAX) for Porcine Cysticercosis (a disease in Pigs), a very important zoonotic disease that potentially causes epilepsy in humans. Vaccinating Pigs against Porcine Cysticercosis can help significantly reduce the incidence of epilepsy in humans.

IIL wishes to spread the message that preventive healthcare is a proven means to minimize incidence of zoonotic diseases. Effective implementation of “Swachh Bharat” programme and preventive vaccination to all susceptible species would be quite appropriate.