Rabies in India

• 27 Dec 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

A recent study by One Health has brought renewed attention to rabies in India, highlighting that the country alone accounts for nearly one-third of global rabies deaths, despite the disease being entirely preventable.

Summary 

• India accounts for nearly one-third of global rabies deaths, mainly due to dog bites, affecting children and poor communities, despite the disease being fully preventable. 
• Deaths persist due to systemic gaps such as delayed treatment, incomplete vaccination, RIG shortages, and weak dog population control, even with national programmes and a One Health approach in place.

What are the Key Findings of the Study on Rabies in India? 

• Highest Global Burden: About 20,000 of the 59,000 rabies deaths worldwide each year occur in India, the highest for any single country. It is endemic to India. 
  • Free-roaming dogs are the main reservoir, with India recording around 20 million dog bites annually. 
• Rabies as Disease of Poverty: The majority of victims are poor, marginalised populations living in areas with large numbers of free-roaming dogs and limited access to healthcare.  
  • Deaths occur not due to lack of medical knowledge, but because of delayed treatment, incomplete vaccination, and non-availability of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). 
  • Over 20% of dog-bite victims receive no anti-rabies vaccine (ARV). Nearly half do not complete the full vaccination course, sharply increasing fatality risk. 
• Scarce of RIG: RIG is life-saving but scarce, and expensive (Rs 5,000–Rs 20,000), and often unavailable in public hospitals. 
• Children are Disproportionately Affected: Around 40% of rabies cases are in children under 15, reflecting exposure and delayed care. 
• Dog Population Control Measures: Current Catch–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release strategies have limited impact due to high annual dog population turnover (~40%). 
  • In 2025, the Supreme Court of India directed States to remove stray dogs from public institutions, triggering debate over feasibility and animal welfare. 
• Elimination is Feasible but Unmet: The study concludes that human rabies deaths are entirely preventable, and continued mortality reflects systemic failures in public health delivery, not scientific limitations.
  

What are the Key Facts About Rabies? 

• About: Rabies is caused by the rabies virus, a neurotropic virus belonging to the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family, which infects the central nervous system. 
• Global burden: Rabies is causing about 59,000 deaths annually. Around 40% of victims are children under 15. 
• Nature of the disease: Rabies is a viral, zoonotic, neglected tropical disease (NTD). 
  • It is 100% fatal once clinical symptoms appear. 
• Main source of infection: Dogs cause about 99% of human rabies cases through bites and scratches. Other mammals can carry rabies, but human cases from wildlife are rare in most regions. 
• Transmission: Spread through saliva via bites, scratches, or contact with broken skin or mucosa. Human-to-human transmission has never been confirmed. 
• Prevention and Treatment: Rabies deaths are completely preventable with timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). 
  • PEP includes:  
    • Immediate wound washing with soap and water (15 minutes) 
    • A full course of rabies vaccine 
    • Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) or monoclonal antibodies for severe exposures 
• Symptoms: Incubation period usually 2–3 months (can range from one week to one year). 
  • Two forms: Furious rabies (hydrophobia, hallucinations, hyperactivity, rapid death) & Paralytic rabies (gradual paralysis, often misdiagnosed). 
  • Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal. 
• Economic Impact: Global cost estimated at US$ 8.6 billion per year, including healthcare costs, lost livelihoods, and social trauma. PEP can be financially catastrophic for poor households. 
• Most Effective Control Strategy: Mass dog vaccination is the most cost-effective way to prevent human rabies. Culling free-roaming dogs is ineffective. 
• Global goal: The World Health Organization and partners aim to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 using a One Health approach that links human health, animal health, and community awareness.

India’s Measures for Rabies Control in India 

• National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP): Aims to reduce rabies deaths by strengthening surveillance, prevention, and management of animal bite cases nationwide. 
• Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP): Digital platform for real-time reporting and monitoring of animal bites and rabies-related deaths across States and UTs. 
• National Health Mission (NHM): Provides financial and operational support to States for vaccines, training, IEC activities, and anti-rabies infrastructure. 
  • Ensures free availability of life-saving Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) in public health facilities. 
• National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Rabies Activities: Supports awareness generation, laboratory strengthening, and development of guidelines and training material. 
• National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of Zoonosis: Integrates human and veterinary health systems to improve animal rabies diagnosis and coordinated disease control. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. Why is rabies considered a major public health problem in India? 
India accounts for about 20,000 of the 59,000 global rabies deaths annually, mainly due to dog bites, delayed treatment, and poor access to vaccines and RIG. 

2. Which programme addresses rabies control in India? 
The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) focuses on surveillance, prevention, free treatment, and capacity building under the National Health Mission.

3. What makes rabies almost always fatal? 
Once the rabies virus reaches the central nervous system and symptoms appear, the disease is 100% fatal, with no effective cure.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Q. Consider the following diseases: (2014)

1. Diphtheria 
2. Chickenpox 
3. Smallpox 

Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India? 

(a) 1 and 2 only   

(b) 3 only  

(c) 1, 2 and 3  

(d) None  

Ans: (b) 

Q. With reference to recent developments regarding ‘Recombinant Vector Vaccines’, consider the following statements: (2021)

1. Genetic engineering is applied in the development of these vaccines. 
2. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  

(a) 1 only   

(b) 2 only  

(c) Both 1 and 2   

(d) Neither 1 nor 2  

Ans: (c)