Vaccines hidden in dog food could help curb the spread of rabies more effectively than injections, say UK scientists who conducted a study on street dogs in India.
There are an estimated 100 million stray dogs in India. According to experts, combination of an injectable and oral vaccination approach could help reach the minimum 70 percent vaccine threshold needed to minimise risk of rabies being passed to people.
According to researchers from University of Edinburgh in the UK, three times as many dogs could be vaccinated each day when the new process is combined with existing injectable techniques.
The team worked with experts from Mission Rabies, and the Worldwide Veterinary Service to assess the feasibility of the approach in Goa.