World Rabies Day is observed every year on September 28 in memory of Louis Pasteur, who passed away on this date. With the support of his colleagues, Pasteur developed the first effective rabies vaccine. The main purpose of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and animals and to promote preventive measures. The 2025 theme for World Rabies Day is “Act Now: You, Me, and Our Communities.” It emphasizes the urgent need for individuals, communities, and nations to take collective action through vaccination, education, and awareness to eliminate rabies. By vaccinating dogs, promoting prevention, training others, and organizing campaigns, everyone is urged to contribute towards eradicating this preventable disease.
Not a Sudden Epidemic:
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It can spread from animals to humans and from humans back to animals. Globally, rabies remains a serious health problem, but it is not a sudden epidemic; it is an entrenched issue. According to official Indian government data, over 3.7 million dog bite cases were reported in 2024. Human rabies deaths, however, were limited to below 180. Tamil Nadu registered the highest deaths (43), followed by Karnataka (42) and Andhra Pradesh (39). Between 2005 and 2020, 2,863 rabies cases were recorded in India, with nearly three-fourths reported from five states: West Bengal (43%), Andhra Pradesh (10%), Maharashtra (8%), Karnataka (7%), and Delhi (6%). The National Rabies Control Programme reported 6,644 cases between 2012 and 2022. Except for Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep, rabies cases have been reported nationwide. Alarmingly, 30% to 60% of victims are children under 15 years. This happens because children often conceal dog bites or treat minor bites lightly.
Transmission of Rabies:
Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease that affects any mammal, including humans. It spreads through the saliva of infected animals. Typically, it is transmitted when a rabis animal bites or scratches, or when saliva touches wounds, eyes, or the mouth. The virus travels through the nerves to the brain, damaging brain activity and leading to death. Stray dog bites account for about 99% of rabies cases in humans. Besides dogs, foxes, wolves, cats, bears, and monkeys can spread it. Bat-borne rabies has not yet been detected in India. The incubation period ranges from 9 to 90 days. The closer the bite to the brain, the faster the disease can manifest. Rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms begin, both in humans and animals. The only protection is immediate vaccination after exposure, which ensures full safety.
Early Symptoms:
Initial symptoms resemble common viral illnesses such as fever, headache, and body pain. Once the virus reaches the brain, patients may suffer from severe anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, excessive salivation, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Once these symptoms develop, survival is almost impossible, as there is no cure.
Stray Dogs-A Major Threat:
Uncontrolled stray dog populations are the main carriers of rabies. Lack of awareness about wound care and treatment, combined with failure to vaccinate at least 70% of dogs, makes prevention difficult. Recently, the Supreme Court of India issued a landmark ruling. It ordered that stray dogs must be captured, sterilized, vaccinated, and then released at the same location. However, “aggressive” or “dangerous” dogs should not be released. This goal can only be achieved through cooperation among doctors, veterinarians, welfare organizations, and local authorities.
Surveillance and Management:
Rabies prevention requires widespread surveillance, effective management strategies, and intersectoral coordination. India has set a national target of eliminating rabies by 2030. From 2005 to 2020, rabies cases per million population fell from 2.36 to 0.41. Current strategies include human and animal vaccination, raising public awareness, managing dog populations, and ensuring collaboration across agencies. India, with the support of the WHO, the Tripartite Alliance, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the FAO, is implementing a One Health approach to control rabies deaths.
The Way Forward – Prevention:
To tackle these challenges, India is working with global partners toward the “Zero by 30” goal, aiming to eliminate rabies deaths by 2030. Large-scale vaccinations of stray dogs must be prioritized to stop viral transmission at the source. Rabies should not haunt us any longer. The continuation of this disease is not due to lack of solutions but due to lack of societal cooperation. All dogs must be compulsorily vaccinated and sterilized. Awareness campaigns must be strengthened, dog population control enforced effectively, and treatment made universally free and accessible. Only by working together can we achieve a rabies-free India and free people from this fatal fear.
