RABIES, BOVINE - BHUTAN: MILK INFECTIVITY DEBATED

RABIES, BOVINE - BHUTAN: MILK INFECTIVITY DEBATED
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Tue 31 Aug 2010
Source: Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) [edited]
<http://www.bbs.com.bt/Panicked%20residents%20rush%20for%20anti-rabies%20vaccination.html>


A death of a rabid cow in Khothiline village in Pasakha has sent the residents of Pasakha to Phuentsholing hospital in droves for anti-rabies vaccination.

The rabid cow belonging to a farmer in Khothiline village in Pasakha died on 19 Aug 2010. Since then, the Pasakha residents who have consumed milk and other products from the cow have been rushing to Phuentsholing hospital to get vaccinated against rabies.

"I came to get my children vaccinated against rabies. They have consumed milk from the cow in Khotiline that had died of rabies," said Surjaman Rai, a local resident, in Pasakha.

90 people including children received anti-rabies vaccination today [31 Aug 2010] alone. So far, the hospital has administered anti-rabies vaccine to 197 people.

This morning [31 Aug 2010], the hospital ran out of its anti-rabies vaccine stock and had to get 200 doses of vaccines from the Medical Supply Depot.

Meanwhile, a calf was found dead near Dhoti River Bridge in Phuentsholing last Wednesday [25 Aug 2010]. Over in Peljoring village under Sipsoo Geog in Samtse, a heifer has died of rabies. The rapid tests conducted at Samtse District Veterinary Laboratory and Satellite Veterinary laboratory in Phuentshoilng confirmed that the animals died of rabies. Further tests carried out at the National Centre for Animal Health in Serbithang, Thimphu also showed the animals died of rabies.

Veterinary and livestock officials say the sporadic rabies outbreak is under control. However, the people in the affected areas are being advised to remain vigilant.

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[CDC's website 
<http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/resources/news/2005-12-23.html> includes the following commentary:

"There are no published studies that have demonstrated the presence of rabies virus in cows' milk. Although transmission of rabies virus from consuming unpasteurized milk from an infected animal is theoretically possible, no human has ever been reported to develop rabies via this route. Milk that has been heat pasteurized presents no risk for rabies virus transmission."

The rabies vaccine has been applied, in the current case, more as an anti-hysteria medication than as a truly required post-exposure treatment. The only people who might have been exposed to the rabies virus were those who handled the rabid cows, or participated in their possible slaughtering if this, indeed, took place.

Rabies is endemic in Bhutan, affecting animal vectors such as dogs as well as dead-end farm animals. During 2009, 10 outbreaks were reported, cases confirmed in 8 canines, 16 bovines, 2 each in caprines and porcines. Four cases were reported in humans. - Mod.AS]