Delhi Declares Human Rabies a Notifiable Disease to Eliminate Fatal Threat

The objective of this notification, according to an official release, is to strengthen surveillance, ensure timely case reporting, and enable rapid public health action to prevent the spread of rabies.

Upon the issuance, all government and private healthcare institutions--including medical colleges and private practitioners--will be mandated to immediately report suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of human rabies to the relevant health authorities.

While rabies is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms appear, it is entirely preventable with timely and correct medical intervention. Early reporting plays a critical role in saving lives and preventing further transmission.

According to the release, to ensure easy access to treatment across Delhi, the government has established the following:

Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV): Currently available at 59 health institutions across all 11 districts of Delhi.

Anti-Rabies Serum/Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG): Available at 33 designated health facilities and hospitals in the capital.

Additionally, the Delhi Government, in collaboration with local bodies, the Animal Husbandry Department, and other stakeholders, is in the final stages of drafting the State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE). Declaring rabies a notifiable disease is a pivotal step toward achieving zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies, the release noted.

The government is also strengthening rabies vaccination facilities for both humans and animals (including dogs). This mandatory notification will empower authorities to track disease trends effectively, improve coordination between human and animal health systems ("One Health" approach) and implement targeted preventive measures in high-risk areas.

Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh applauded it as "a crucial step towards the government's goal of achieving zero human rabies deaths in the capital."

"Rabies is a preventable disease, and any death caused by it is unacceptable to us. By declaring human rabies a notifiable disease, we will strengthen surveillance, improve early detection, and ensure timely treatment. This is a crucial step toward our government's goal of achieving zero human rabies deaths in the capital," the Health Minister said.

The Minister further added that the notification will take effect immediately upon issuance and remain in force until further orders. Detailed guidelines for reporting and coordination will soon be shared with all relevant departments and health institutions, the release noted.

- ANI