World’s 36% deaths due to dog-mediated rabies annually occur in India: WHO

As per World Health Organisation (WHO) the number of human deaths globally due to dog-mediated rabies was estimated to be round 59,000 annually of which India accounted for 20,565 (36%) deaths annually. True burden of rabies in India is not fully known; although as per available information, it causes 18000-20000 deaths every year. About 30-60% of reported rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the age of 15 years as bites that occur in children often go unrecognized and unreported.

In view of the same, to address the stray dog population management through sterilization and immunization programs in wake of significant incidents of dog bite cases in the country, the Central government has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 dated March 10, 2023 under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 after superseding the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001. These Rules aim to address stray dog population management through sterilization and immunization programs.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been implementing National Rabies Control Programme since 12th Five-year plan in all States/UTs except for Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep to prevent and control of Rabies in the country.

Dog bite reported in country

The number of dog bite reported in the country under Integrated Disease Surveillance Plan-Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP) during last five years revealed that the initiatives undertaken by government in last five years had started to bare fruits. Against 72,77,523 dog bite cases reported from all over the country in 2019, the figure dropped significantly to 30,43,339 cases reported in 2023.

Prevention and control of Rabies in India

Also, as part of ongoing prevention and control of Rabies in India, under the ‘National Health Mission’ implemented by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, states are being allocated budget for implementing ‘National Rabies Control Program’ through Capacity building of healthcare staff, procurement of rabies vaccines and Rabies Immunoglobulin, Awareness generation for Rabies Prevention & Control, review meetings, Monitoring and Surveillance, establishment of Model Anti Rabies Clinics & Wound Washing facilities, etc.

Financial assistance for purchase of anti-rabies vaccine

Further, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying have also been financially assisting states for purchase of anti-rabies vaccine under the component ‘Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases’ (ASCAD) of Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) as per demand and action plan received from the States. During last 3 financial years, total Rs 719.73 lakhs was released to different states as Central share for purchase of 127.37 lakhs anti rabies vaccine doses.

As per information provided by states, in last three years, 101.54 lakhs anti rabies vaccine was administered in dogs, 12.85 lakhs anti-rabies vaccine was administered in other animals besides 24.53 lakhs dogs were sterilized.