Rabies, one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest diseases, continues to cast a long shadow over both rural and urban communities worldwide. Despite being 100 percent preventable, rabies remains the 10th most common cause of human deaths globally, according to Dr. R.K. Bhardwaj, Professor at the Division of Veterinary Medicine, SKUAST-Jammu. The disease, caused by the Lyssa virus of the Rhabdoviridae family, is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, primarily via bites or scratches from dogs, foxes, jackals, monkeys, and mongooses. While the disease affects all warm-blooded animals, its human toll is most acute in regions where people and stray dogs live in close quarters.
Nowhere is this more evident than in India, which, according to Dr. Bhardwaj, is endemic for rabies everywhere except the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. The country’s distinction as the world’s most populous nation, coupled with its staggering stray dog population—estimated at over 30 million—creates a perfect storm for rabies transmission. Tragically, India accounts for a disproportionate number of the approximately 59,000 human deaths caused by canine rabies each year, a figure that also represents a loss of 3.7 million years of healthy life due to disability, as reported by Dr. Bhardwaj. The economic burden is equally daunting, with global losses estimated at $8.6 billion annually, much of which is borne by developing countries.
World Rabies Day, observed every September 28 to commemorate the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur—the pioneer behind the first effective anti-rabies vaccine—serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against this ancient scourge. Yet, as Dr. Bhardwaj points out, awareness campaigns alone are not enough to stem the tide. "Effective rabies elimination hinges not just on vaccination, but also on managing the dog population humanely," explains Rajesh Kumar, a municipal animal welfare officer. Without sustainable animal birth control (ABC) programs and consistent enforcement, the cycle of transmission continues unabated.
The challenges are formidable. The sheer scale of India’s stray dog population presents a logistical nightmare for comprehensive vaccination coverage. Access to vaccines, especially in remote areas, remains inconsistent, and cultural attitudes often hinder the adoption of modern preventive measures. In some regions, outdated and inhumane culling practices persist, despite being ineffective and ethically questionable. Building trust with communities and advocating for humane, evidence-based strategies is paramount, Dr. Bhardwaj notes.
Yet, there are glimmers of hope. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) endorse the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) program as the global gold standard for rabies control and stray animal population management. This approach, which involves mass vaccination and sterilization of dogs, aims to stabilize populations and create herd immunity. According to Dr. Bhardwaj, mass vaccination of 70% of the dog population in endemic areas is sufficient to create a protective barrier that prevents the disease from spreading. The cost of vaccinating dogs is minimal compared to the expense of emergency post-exposure treatments for people bitten by potentially rabid animals.
To expand the reach of these efforts, the Indian government has introduced subsidies for pet owners and animal welfare organizations to reduce the cost of vaccines and sterilization procedures. Schemes like the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules provide financial assistance, but Dr. Bhardwaj suggests these programs could be made more accessible to local bodies and NGOs. Deploying mobile veterinary clinics is another promising strategy, as it brings anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) and sterilization services directly to underserved and rural areas, reducing logistical barriers for communities.
One particularly innovative solution is the use of oral rabies vaccines (ORVs). As Dr. Bhardwaj explains, ORVs—delivered in bait form—eliminate the need to catch or restrain dogs for vaccination, making it much easier to reach free-roaming populations. This approach is reminiscent of how the oral polio vaccine revolutionized immunization efforts and could prove to be a game-changer in India’s fight against rabies.
Meanwhile, the fight against rabies is also gaining momentum on a global scale. In Africa, a collaboration between Washington State University (WSU) and a network of nearly 200 veterinary clinics across the United States and Canada is making a tangible difference. According to WSU News, for every rabies vaccine administered at 120 Vetcor veterinary clinics in North America, $1 is donated to WSU’s Rabies Free Africa program. This innovative partnership has helped vaccinate more than 3 million dogs in Kenya and Tanzania, two countries where rabies remains a persistent threat.
"By supporting this program, local veterinarians can make a global impact and be part of the solution to end human deaths by rabies in Africa," said Guy Palmer, founding director of the Rabies Free Africa program. In 2023, Vetcor Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Michelle Shoemaker and a team of veterinarians traveled to Tanzania to witness the program’s impact firsthand. "It’s pretty incredible because as much as I tell our team members about Rabies Free Africa and what it does, when you actually get them over there and they get to witness it, they come back changed people," Shoemaker reflected. The sight of hundreds of children walking miles with their dogs to attend mass vaccination clinics left a lasting impression. "They love their animals, and the fact that they would walk all this distance and give their time to spend an entire day to come there and be a part of that means they know the importance of it—it’s saving lives," Shoemaker added.
The ripple effect of these efforts is evident in Malawi, where Dr. John and Rachel Clark of the Community Veterinary Clinic in Vero Beach, Florida, launched their own rabies control program modeled after WSU’s initiative. Since 2015, the Clarks have administered over 50,000 vaccines in southern Africa. "Decreasing child and canine mortality with one, reasonably priced vaccine makes such a difference, especially in rural Africa," John Clark said. Yet, challenges remain, particularly in increasing vaccine distribution to remote areas.
Back in India, the journey to a rabies-free future requires not only systemic change but also individual responsibility. Dr. Bhardwaj emphasizes the importance of immediate action following an animal bite: "Wash the wound for 10-15 minutes with soap and water or five percent benzalkonium chloride solution, as it aids in preventing the establishment of infection." Applying 70 percent alcohol or povidone-iodine solution, seeking prompt medical attention, and undergoing post-exposure vaccination are critical steps that can save lives.
For pet owners, regular vaccination is non-negotiable. In India, the rabies vaccine schedule for dogs starts at 3-4 months of age, followed by a second dose 21 days later and annual boosters thereafter. In the event of a dog bite to a pet, the protocol mirrors that for humans: immediate wound washing and post-exposure vaccination from a licensed veterinarian.
Ultimately, the battle against rabies is a collective one—requiring government action, community engagement, and personal vigilance. As World Rabies Day reminds us, the tools to defeat this ancient foe are within reach, but only if we work together to use them.