India Saw Over 2.5 Times Jump In Rabies Deaths Since 2022, More Than 4 Deaths Per Month In 2024
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is endemic for rabies and accounts for 36 per cent of the world’s rabies deaths
Of the 54 deaths reported in 2024, 14 were from Maharashtra. The state has been the biggest contributor to the figure every year since 2022, data shows.
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The increase in rabies cases in 2024 becomes significant in light of the number of cases of dog bites reported in the country. In 2022, as shown in the graph, across the country there were 21.80 lakh cases of dog bites and 21 deaths due to rabies. However, in 2024, with 21.95 lakh cases of dog bites, the number of deaths due to rabies reached 54. In 2023, there were 30.43 lakh cases of dog bites and 50 deaths due to rabies.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is endemic for rabies and accounts for 36 per cent of the world’s rabies deaths. It also said that about 30-60 per cent 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 unrecognised and unreported.
In the calendar year 2024, there were 5.19 lakh cases of dog bites where the victims were below the age of 15 years.
The government, in a statement, said it is aware of the fact that the presence of unvaccinated street dogs in human settlements is a significant contributor to the high incidence of endemic rabies in the country.
In India, human rabies is classified as a notifiable disease in 26 states/UTs following an advisory by the ministry of health and family welfare which is aiming to make India rabies-free by 2030.
The ministry launched the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE) in September 2021.
According to Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, mass dog vaccination and dog population management are being done by the animal husbandry department in collaboration with local body authorities.
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