PUBLIC HEALTH BLOG AND UPDATES

Introduction Rabies is an acute, highly fatal viral disease of the Central Nervous System  (CNS), caused by Lyssavirus type. It is primarily a zoonotic disease of warm blooded animals, particularly carnivorous such as dogs, cats, jackals and wolves. Agent Lyssavirus type 1 is a bullet shaped neurotropic RNA containing virus. It belongs to the family rhabdoviridae - serotype 1 and is the causative agent of rabies. Mode of Transmission Animal Bites: Through rabid dog bites or wild animals Licks on abraded skin and mucosa by rabid animals Person to person (rare)  Incubation Period It is highly variable in human, commonly 3-8 weeks following exposure, but may vary from 4 days to many years. The incubation period depends upon the site if bite, severity of the bite, number of wounds, amount of virus injected, species of the biting animal. In general, incubation period tends to be shorter in severe exposures and bites on face, head, neck and upper extremities and bites by wild anim...

  Researchers around the world are developing   more than 165 vaccines   against the coronavirus, and   32 vaccines   are in human trials. Vaccines typically require years of research and testing before reaching the clinic, but scientists are racing to produce a   safe and effective vaccine   by next year. Antibody produced in response to a vaccine SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus Work began in January with the deciphering of the  SARS-CoV-2 genome . The first vaccine safety trials in humans started in March, but the road ahead remains uncertain. Some trials will fail, and others may end without a clear result. But a few may succeed in stimulating the immune system to produce effective antibodies against the virus. Here is the status of all the vaccines that have reached trials in humans, along with a selection of promising vaccines still being tested in cells or animals. For an overview of different Covid-19 treatments, see our  Coronavirus Drug and T...

Introduction Dengue  is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in many countries worldwide in recent years. In Nepal, dengue is a rapidly emerging disease. Endemic across most provinces, dengue  incidence has increased in recent years largely due to expansion of the vector Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, as well as the movement of people and the introduction of imported cases. All 4 dengue serotypes exist in Nepal, with DENV-1 historically contributing the highest burden. Prevention, clinical case management, surveillance, vector control and management and outbreak response are ongoing in Nepal, however there is a need to strengthen these especially at a time of national decentralization towards a federalized system. National dengue guidelines was first developed in Nepal in 2008 based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines 1997 which was revised in 2011. This revised national guidelines on dengue prevention, management and control, 2019 aims ...

 Introduction: Snakebite is an important occupational hazard affecting farmers, plantation workers, herders and fishermen. Open-style habitation and the practice of sleeping on the floor also expose people to bites from nocturnal snakes, with children being at a particularly high risk. In rural Nepal, snakebite is an important public health problem. The agriculturally prosperous terai region with hot climate, high seasonal rainfall, lush natural vegetation, high density of rodents, rich reptiles and amphibian flora make an ideal habitat for snake to live and increase availability of marshy land to undergo hibernation. The abundance of snake and human activities, mainly agriculture, increases the man– snake encounter leading to snakebite. Nocturnal snakebite is also common in Nepal due to the sleeping habit. Snakebite is a life threatening medical emergency and survival of the victims depends much on the appropriate first aid measures and immediate transportation to the nearest heal...