Rabies infection can be fatal but preventable with timely action
Prof Ram Shankar Upadhayaya, medical scientist
LUCKNOW: In Feb 2025, Srushti Shinde, 21, from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, was bitten by a stray dog that had attacked nearly 20 people in a single day. Srushti sought immediate medical care, received a full course of antirabies vaccines, and was given
rabies immunoglobulin
(RIG).
..
Despite these life-saving measures, she died just days later. How could this happen when all the right steps were taken? Her story is not just about a young life lost. It's about a disease we know how to prevent but continues to claim thousands of lives in India each year.
WHAT IS RABIES?
Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the central nervous system. It is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, primarily via dog bites. Once symptoms appear ranging from fever and confusion to hallucinations, paralysis, and hydrophobia, it is fatal.
But the most painful irony is that rabies is 100% preventable with proper post-exposure care.
A NATIONAL EMERGENCY
India bears the highest burden of rabies in the world. According to WHO and India's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths.
An estimated 20,000 people die from rabies each year and over 17 million animal bite cases are reported annually, which is nearly one case every two seconds.
Dogs are responsible for 99% of human rabies cases in India. Despite being preventable, most rabies deaths occur due to poor awareness, inadequate vaccine infrastructure, and lack of timely treatment.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A DOG BITE
If bitten by a dog, stray or pet, one must wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical help immediately as even minor bites can transmit rabies.
Get vaccinated with a five-dose anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) schedule, or Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) for deep or high-risk wounds.
Report the bite to local health and animal authorities. Time is critical as delay in treatment can cost lives.
A WORD TO PET OWNERS & ANIMAL WELFARE ADVOCATES
While stray dogs pose a risk, irresponsible pet ownership can contribute to rabies transmission.
If you're a pet owner, you must vaccinate your pet annually. It's legally and morally required. Keep your pets indoors or supervised. Animal welfare and public safety must go hand in hand.
IS PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM FALLING SHORT?
Despite having a
National Rabies Control Programme
and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) policy, implementation remains patchy and underfunded. Vaccine and RIG shortages, especially in rural areas, have come to light.
Poor dog population management in cities and lack of real-time bite and rabies case reporting aggravates the problem. Rabies doesn't kill. Negligence does. Let's make our cities safer, educate our families and demand better from our public health systems.
(The writer is a medical scientist)
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