Rabies: Zero by 30, World Rabies Day 2017: 28 September is World Rabies Day

Rabies: Zero by 30, World Rabies Day 2017: It is celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating this horrifying disease.
28 September also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

Rabies: Zero by 30
At the global conference on rabies elimination in 2015, a common goal of zero human deaths from canine
 rabies by 2030 was agreed by the World Health Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health,
UN Food and Agriculture Organization and GARC.  In support of this goal, the 2017 World Rabies Day
theme is Rabies: Zero by 30.
https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day

 
Today, safe and efficacious animal and human vaccines are among the important tools that exist to eliminate human deaths from rabies while awareness is the key driver for success of communities to engage in effective rabies prevention.

Key facts

• Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories.
• Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans.
• Rabies elimination is feasible through vaccination of dogs and prevention of dog bites.
• Infection causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, mainly in Asia and Africa.
• 40% of people bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age.
• Immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water after contact with a suspect rabid animal is crucial and can save lives.

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms. In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans. Yet, rabies can affect both domestic and wild animals. It is spread to people through bites or scratches, usually via saliva.
Rabies is present on all continents, except Antarctica, with over 95% of human deaths occurring in the Asia and Africa regions.
Rabies is one of the neglected tropical diseases that predominantly affects poor and vulnerable populations who live in remote rural locations. Although effective human vaccines and immunoglobulins exist for rabies, they are not readily available or accessible to those in need. Globally, rabies deaths are rarely reported and children between the ages of 5–14 years are frequent victims. Treating a rabies exposure, where the average cost of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is US$ 40 in Africa, and US$ 49 in Asia, can be a catastrophic financial burden on affected families whose average daily income is around US$ 1–2 per person.
Every year, more than 15 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination. This is estimated to prevent hundreds of thousands of rabies deaths annually.

Prevention

Eliminating rabies in dogs

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people. Dog vaccination reduces deaths attributable to rabies and the need for PEP as a part of dog bite patient care.

Awareness on rabies and preventing dog bites

Education on dog behaviour and bite prevention for both children and adults is an essential extension of a rabies vaccination programme and can decrease both the incidence of human rabies and the financial burden of treating dog bites. Increasing awareness of rabies prevention and control in communities includes education and information on responsible pet ownership, how to prevent dog bites, and immediate care measures after a bite. Engagement and ownership of the programme at the community level increases reach and uptake of key messages.

Preventive immunization in people

Human rabies vaccines exist for pre-exposure immunization. These are recommended for people in certain high-risk occupations such as laboratory workers handling live rabies and rabies-related (lyssavirus) viruses; and people (such as animal disease control staff and wildlife rangers) whose professional or personal activities might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, or other mammals that may be infected.
Pre-exposure immunization is also recommended for travellers to rabies-affected, remote areas who plan to spend a lot of time outdoors involved in activities such as caving or mountain-climbing. Expatriates and long-term travellers to areas with a high rabies exposure risk should be immunized if local access to rabies biologics is limited. Finally, immunization should also be considered for children living in, or visiting, remote, high-risk areas. As they play with animals, they may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites.

Symptoms

The incubation period for rabies is typically 1–3 months but may vary from 1 week to 1 year, dependent upon factors such as the location of virus entry and viral load. Initial symptoms of rabies include a fever with pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensation (paraesthesia) at the wound site. As the virus spreads to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops.
There are two forms of the disease:

• People with furious rabies exhibit signs of hyperactivity, excitable behaviour, hydrophobia (fear of water) and sometimes aerophobia (fear of drafts or of fresh air). Death occurs after a few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest.
• Paralytic rabies accounts for about 30% of the total number of human cases. This form of rabies runs a less dramatic and usually longer course than the furious form. Muscles gradually become paralyzed, starting at the site of the bite or scratch. A coma slowly develops, and eventually death occurs. The paralytic form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, contributing to the under-reporting of the disease.

Diagnosis

Current diagnostic tools are not suitable for detecting rabies infection before the onset of clinical disease, and unless the rabies-specific signs of hydrophobia or aerophobia are present, clinical diagnosis may be difficult. Human rabies can be confirmed intra-vitam and post mortem by various diagnostic techniques that detect whole viruses, viral antigens, or nucleic acids in infected tissues (brain, skin, urine, or saliva).

Transmission

People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch from an animal with rabies, and transmission to humans by rabid dogs accounts for 99% of cases. Africa and Asia have the highest rabies burden in humans and account for 95% of rabies deaths, worldwide.
In the Americas, bats are now the major source of human rabies deaths as dog-mediated transmission has mostly been broken in this region. Bat rabies is also an emerging public health threat in Australia and Western Europe. Human deaths following exposure to foxes, raccoons, skunks, jackals, mongooses and other wild carnivore host species are very rare, and bites from rodents are not known to transmit rabies.
Transmission can also occur when infectious material – usually saliva – comes into direct contact with human mucosa or fresh skin wounds. Human-to-human transmission through bites is theoretically possible but has never been confirmed.
Contraction of rabies through inhalation of virus-containing aerosols or through transplantation of infected organs is rare. Contracting rabies through consumption of raw meat or animal-derived tissue has never been confirmed in humans.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the immediate treatment of a bite victim after rabies exposure. This prevents virus entry into the central nervous system, which results in imminent death. PEP consists of:

• extensive washing and local treatment of the wound as soon as possible after exposure;
• a course of potent and effective rabies vaccine that meets WHO standards; and
• the administration of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), if indicated.

Effective treatment soon after exposure to rabies can prevent the onset of symptoms and death.

Extensive wound washing

This involves first-aid of the wound that includes immediate and thorough flushing and washing of the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes with soap and water, detergent, povidone iodine or other substances that kill the rabies virus.

Recommended PEP

Depending on the severity of the contact with the suspected rabid animal, administration of PEP is recommended as follows (see table):

All category II and III exposures assessed as carrying a risk of developing rabies require PEP. This risk is increased if:

• the biting mammal is a known rabies reservoir or vector species
• the exposure occurs in a geographical area where rabies is still present
• the animal looks sick or displays abnormal behaviour
• a wound or mucous membrane was contaminated by the animal’s saliva
• the bite was unprovoked
• the animal has not been vaccinated.

The vaccination status of the suspect animal should not be the deciding factor when considering to initiate PEP or not when the vaccination status of the animal is questionable. This can be the case if dog vaccination programmes are not being sufficiently regulated or followed out of lack of resources or low priority.
WHO continues to promote human rabies prevention through the elimination of rabies in dogs, dog bite prevention strategies, and more widespread use of the intradermal route for PEP which reduces volume and therefore the cost of cell-cultured vaccine by 60% to 80%.

Integrated bite case management

If possible, the veterinary services should be alerted, the biting animal identified and quarantined for observation (for healthy dogs and cats). Alternatively, the animal may be euthanized for immediate laboratory examination. Prophylaxis must be continued during the 10-day observation period or while awaiting laboratory results. Treatment may be discontinued if the animal is proven to be free of rabies. If a suspect animal cannot be captured and tested, then a full course of prophylaxis should be completed.

WORLD HEALTH ORGAINIZATION

World Contraception Day #WCD2017

World Contraception Day #WCD2017: World Contraception Day takes place on September 26th every year. The annual worldwide campaign centers around a vision where every pregnancy is wanted. Launched in 2007, WCD’s mission is to improve awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health.

YOURLIFE.COM

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

• National Family Planning Day 2017
• Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations – World Population Day 2017
• National Family Planning Day (18- Sep 2016)
• Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) Commitment, Nepal
• National Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (2015-2020)
• #National Family Planning Day (18th Sep 2015)
• National Family Planning Day sep 18th 2014
• Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016 Key Indicators Report
• Key findings – The 2015 Nepal Health Facility Survey (2015 NHFS)
• 2016 Health SDG Profile: Nepal
• Sep 26 Every Year !! World Contraception Day
• 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS)
• National Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) Program
• National Family Planning Program, Nepal
• Family Planning ” Opportunities, challenges & Priorities in Nepal
• SDG 3 Targets and Indicators for Nepal (2014–2030)

“From research to health care: Your pharmacist is at your service” – World Pharmacists Day 2017

“From research to health care: Your pharmacist is at your service” – World Pharmacists Day 2017.  As designated by the FIP Council several years ago at the FIP Congress in Istanbul, 25 September marks the annual World Pharmacists Day. FIP encourages the world’s pharmacists to use this day to organise activities that promote and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world.

Diversity of profession to be focus of World Pharmacists Day 2017

 
“From research to health care: Your pharmacist is at your service” is the theme of this year’s World Pharmacists Day on 25 September, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) announced in March. “This theme was chosen to reflect the numerous contributions the pharmacy profession makes to health. From research and development of medicines, to educating future pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, and providing direct care, we do all this in the service of our patients and communities,” said FIP President Dr Carmen Peña.
“We want to emphasise that pharmacists are the backbone of health care in many different settings. But providing care does not begin in community or hospital pharmacies. Taking care of patients starts with recognising the health issues of populations and developing medicines, policies and education to tackle them. We pharmacists are often there at the very beginning of the process — when the first molecule that effectively treats a disease is identified,” Dr Peña added.
World Pharmacists Day is used by FIP’s members and others around the globe to highlight the value of the pharmacy profession and impact on improving health to authorities, other professions and the media, as well as to the general public. FIP has produced resources for this year’s campaign in the six official United Nations languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. These include an animation and other materials for print and social media.

FIP

Acts and Regulations

•  Nepal Pharmacy Council Act, 2057
• Nepal Pharmacy Council Regulation, 2059
•  Nepal Pharmacy Council Regulation Amendment, 2072

Celebrate World Pharmacist day on 25th September 2017 : Use Facebook Profile Picture

Click Here: Celebrate World Pharmacist day on 25th September 2017 : Use Facebook Profile Picture

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World Alzheimer’s Day 2017 – Remember Me!!

World Alzheimer’s Day 2017 – Remember Me!!: World Alzheimer’s Day, September 21st of each year, is a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning.
Facts: 

• Every 3 seconds someone in the world develops dementia but most people with dementia do not receive a diagnosis or support
• In 2017, there will be an expected 10 million new cases of dementia
• Governments must develop their own national plans
• Dementia will become a trillion-dollar disease in 2018
• Dementia can start to develop in the brain as far as 20 years before onset

Dementia is one of the most significant global health and social crises in the 21st century, yet too often diagnosis is made late. There is no cure for dementia. Nearly 50 million people are currently living with dementia worldwide, and this figure is expected to reach 132 million by 2050 if effective risk-reduction strategies are not implemented.
Dementia is a collective name for progressive brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. Dementia is the leading cause of disability and dependency among the elderly. Although each person will experience dementia in their own way, eventually those affected are unable to care for themselves and need help with all aspects of daily life.

Dementia is a progressive, degenerative brain syndrome that affects memory, thinking, behaviour and
emotion. Dementia knows no social, economic, ethnic or geographical boundaries and affects people
throughout the world. As dementia progresses individuals affected need care with all aspects of daily life,
worldwide families mostly provide this care.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 50-60% of all cases and is
caused by abnormal brain tissue changes.

Signs and symptoms

• Memory loss
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Problems with language
• Disorientation to time and place
• Poor or decreased judgement
• Problems keeping track of things
• Misplacing things
• Changes in mood and behaviour
• Trouble with images and spatial relationships
• Withdrawal from work or social activities

ADI

Prevention Tips 

Some risks factors to brain health cannot be controlled or prevented, like your age or genetics. Other risk factors, like health choices, are under your control. For example, you can:

• Get active and stay active.
• Manage cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
• Learn new things.
• Connect with your family, friends and communities.

(CDC)

Tips to reduce Alzheimer’s risk:

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat mindfully. Include vegetables and fruits; whole grains; fish, lean poultry, tofu, and beans and other legumes as protein sources; and healthy fats in your diet.
• Exercise regularly for about 30 minutes every day as this helps improve blood flow to the brain.
• Keep an eye on important health numbers such as cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
• Exercise the brain through related games such as puzzles, crosswords, memory, and mental activity games.

Times of India

World Alzheimer Report

• WHO (Global Plan of Action on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025 )