India’s Strategy to Eliminate Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

India is intensifying efforts to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030, a target set to reduce the impact of a disease that remains a significant public health challenge. Recent studies, including one in The Lancet, emphasize the importance of a holistic “One Health” strategy that integrates human and animal health measures to tackle this issue effectively.

Current Situation of Rabies in India:

The Lancet estimated approximately 5,726 human rabies deaths annually in India, despite some progress in recent years.
A large-scale survey involving 3.37 lakh individuals across 15 states revealed an annual dog-bite incidence of 5.6 per 1,000 people, highlighting the persistent risk.
An estimated 9.1 million animal bites occur annually, with 76.8% attributed to dogs.
20.5% of dog-bite victims did not receive any anti-rabies vaccination (ARV). Among those who began the vaccination, nearly 50% failed to complete the course.
These lapses in vaccination adherence contribute to the continued fatalities from rabies, despite overall reductions.

About Rabies:

Rabies has a near 100% fatality rate once symptoms develop, making it a serious public health challenge.
Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease caused by viruses from the Lyssavirus family, which infect a wide range of mammals. The disease primarily targets the central nervous system, and once symptoms appear, rabies is almost 100% fatal.
Dogs are the most common source of rabies transmission to humans, followed by other animals like cats, bats, and wild carnivores. The virus is most commonly transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, as saliva carries the rabies virus.
Rabies has an incubation period of 1 to 3 months, although this can vary based on factors like the distance of the bite from the brain. Once symptoms manifest, rabies is almost always fatal, with only a handful of survivors worldwide despite intensive medical intervention.
India accounts for about 36% of global rabies deaths, with dog bites being the leading cause.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): It is the most effective treatment for preventing rabies after potential exposure. PEP includes the immediate administration of rabies immunoglobulin (Rabies Ig) and a series of rabies vaccine doses.

One Health Approach:

Experts emphasize the One Health approach to control and eliminate rabies:

Surveillance Systems: Strengthening surveillance for both humans and animals is crucial to identifying rabies cases early.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP): Ensuring timely and complete administration of PEP for dog-bite victims is essential to preventing rabies.
Dog Vaccination Programs: Nationwide efforts to vaccinate dogs need to be scaled up to reduce the risk of transmission.
The National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) in India aims to eradicate rabies caused by dog bites by 2030.
The plan employs a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health strategies. Key elements include mass vaccination of dogs, increased access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for humans, and public education campaigns.
The initiative is driven by collaboration among various stakeholders, including government ministries, local authorities, and international partners like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

Rabies-Free Cities Initiative:

The Rabies-Free Cities Initiative in India is a targeted effort to eliminate rabies through comprehensive measures like mass vaccination of stray dogs, public awareness campaigns, and responsible pet ownership.
Notably, cities like Pune and Mumbai are leading the initiative with goals set for 2030, focusing on dog sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination drives.
This campaign is part of India’s broader effort to combat rabies, aligning with the National Rabies Control Programme, which aims for widespread vaccination coverage to curb dog-mediated rabies