Rabies Confirmed in Cow in Bakaiya, Makwanpur; Authorities Intensify Control Measures and Public Awareness

Makwanpur. Following the confirmation of rabies disease in a cow in Shikharpur, Bakaiya Rural Municipality-9, the local livestock branch has intensified disease control, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns with high vigilance. This zoonotic disease, which spreads from animals to humans, poses a serious risk to public health, making timely precautions and vaccination mandatory, informed Dr. Avinash Thakur, Chief of the Livestock Branch and Veterinary Doctor. Unusual symptoms such as extreme aggression, abnormal vocalization, and continuous drooling were observed in a farmer's cow in the Shikharpur area. The cow died during treatment. Upon receiving information about the incident, a technical team led by Dr. Avinash Thakur, including technicians Amin Ansari, Ajay Bartoula, and Mohit Sah, immediately reached the scene to inspect and assess the risk. The team's initial rapid test kit examination yielded a positive result. For official confirmation, samples were sent to the Central Veterinary Disease Investigation Laboratory in Tripureshwor on Shrawan 29, and the final report received on Bhadra 3 confirmed rabies positive. Upon receiving the report, the Bakaiya Rural Municipality Livestock Branch immediately summoned farmers from potentially at-risk areas to provide detailed information about the nature and risks of rabies. The Livestock Branch, in coordination with the Rural Municipality's Health Branch, has arranged for the provision of anti-rabies vaccine (PEP) free of charge for affected farmers. Livestock farmers need to pay attention to the early and late-stage symptoms observed in animals. Initially, there is a sudden change in the animal's behavior, becoming excessively agitated and aggressive, attempting to bite humans or other animals, constant vocalization, and staring. Later, thick and excessive drooling occurs, inability to swallow water or food, weakness in the neck and jaw, hind leg paralysis, body paralysis, and eventually death. Rabies is a 100% fatal disease caused by a virus. Once symptoms are clearly visible, specific treatment is not possible for either animals or humans. Timely vaccination of domestic animals against rabies is the only way to prevent it. In case of bites or scratches by a suspected or infected animal, or if saliva comes into contact with wounds, PEP vaccine should be administered without delay. Despite limited resources, the Bakaiya Livestock Branch has increased vigilance and intensified monitoring, testing, and vaccination management. It has been requested not to approach animals showing abnormal behavior, not to attempt to tie or touch them, and not to waste time with domestic treatments. If symptoms like excessive drooling or paralysis are seen in livestock, immediate information should be provided to the nearest animal health worker or the Livestock Branch. In case of bites by a suspected animal, the wound should be thoroughly washed with clean running water and soap for 10 to 15 minutes, and the branch urges to seek vaccination services provided by the rural municipality immediately.