Rabies

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories. Dogs are the source of the vast majority of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans.

Low awareness of the need to seek health care after a dog bite claims the lives of more than 55 000 people each year, mostly in Asia and Africa. India is endemic for rabies, and accounts for 36% of the world’s rabies deaths. True burden of rabies in India is not fully known; although as per available information, it causes 18 000-20 000 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.

Rabies deaths in human are 100% preventable through prompt and appropriate medical care.Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people.