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Published online 6 July 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.627
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A knockout vaccine for rabies?
Single injection cures infected mice — and it can protect those who haven't yet caught the disease.
A rabies vaccine that reverses the disease in mice after just one injection may pave the way to cheap, effective prevention of the fatal illness.
Once a person is exposed to rabies — which is most often transmitted by a dog bite — he or she must quickly begin a month-long series of five vaccination shots to prevent the onset of disease.
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We should be very much optimistic about this novel idea. This new vaccine will hopefully add to our endeavor to eliminate a unnecessary evil from the mother earth. But few words of caution need to be worth mentioned. The efficacy of present month-long anti-rabies vaccines are proven. This new vaccine has to pass through rigorous test of time to surpass the forerunners. Dr.Ranabir Pal, Sikkim-Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, India
A preventive shot as well as a cure is a great leap in the fight against rabies. I do hope it comes through the trials fast and successfully. It has the potential to take away the fear of the animals in minds of the many. Dietzschold and his team deserves the kudos. -Darly Thomas, Mysore
A vaccine for rabies!-that itself sounds so great. the deadly disease that has been troubling mankind for several centuries can be prevented by a single injection must become a reality. Hope the trials prove it to be safe and effective.
The new rabies vaccine found , soon will have great impact on society as a noble cause specifically the country like India. The trails should ended with warm success. Mr.Muthuraman.M MBPL Chennai-India
It is very strange for me that how a single injection can revert the rabies virus induced devastating changes like necrosis /apoptotsis changes in the brain as there is a delayed regenerative process of the nerve cells. It will be a maricle.
It appears as a great leap forward in prevention of Rabies and even opens up hope on treatment. Hope it will materialise.
Dr.P.K.Sasidharan
Calicut, Kerala