India recorded 55 deaths by malaria, 131 deaths by dengue, and 27 deaths by kala-azar in 2025, but there is no single comparable and comprehensive national measure of its annual human rabies mortality.
The country aims to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, but a community-based study estimated that 5,726 people die of rabies in India every year.
Key Takeaways
- India aims to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.
- A community-based study estimated that 5,726 people die of rabies in India every year.
- The lack of consolidated data on rabies mortality in India hinders efforts to eliminate the disease.
- Rabies is entirely preventable through timely vaccination of dogs and prompt post-exposure care.
- The Indian government's efforts to make human rabies a notifiable disease across India will help improve surveillance and reporting.
What happened
A study led by researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) estimated that 5,726 people die of rabies in India every year.
In contrast, the Health Ministryโs Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme-Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP) system reported 21 deaths by rabies in 2022, 50 in 2023, and 54 in 2024.
The discrepancy in reported data poses a significant challenge in understanding the true burden of rabies in India, with the IDSP-IHIP system capturing only a fraction of the estimated annual deaths.
Why it matters
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost invariably fatal once symptoms appear.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that domestic dogs are responsible for up to 99% of human rabies transmission, and India accounts for 35% of rabies deaths globally and 59.9% of rabies deaths in Asia.
The lack of consolidated data on rabies mortality in India hinders efforts to eliminate the disease, with many cases and deaths occurring in areas where they are not measurable.
What it means for you
Children are particularly vulnerable, with 40% of people bitten by suspected rabid animals being children under 15 years.
Rabies is entirely preventable through timely vaccination of dogs and prompt post-exposure care, including administration of the anti-rabies vaccine and passive immunisation.
However, the Lancet study found that many dog-bite victims do not receive adequate post-exposure care, with only 66.2% receiving at least three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine.
By the numbers
- 5,726: Estimated annual deaths from rabies in India.
- 21: Reported deaths by rabies in 2022.
- 50: Reported deaths by rabies in 2023.
- 54: Reported deaths by rabies in 2024.
- 35%: India's contribution to global rabies deaths.
- 59.9%: India's contribution to rabies deaths in Asia.
- 9.1 million: Estimated annual animal bites in India, including 5.6 million dog bites.
What happens next
The National Centre for Disease Control is working to make human rabies a notifiable disease across India, which will help improve surveillance and reporting of rabies cases and deaths.
The Health Ministry has acknowledged the surveillance challenge and is working to improve it, including efforts to integrate human and animal surveillance and ensure timely administration of post-exposure prophylaxis.
The ICMR-funded study recommends adopting a focused โOne Healthโ approach to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, which includes accelerating dog vaccination across the country and ensuring prompt post-exposure care for dog-bite victims.
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Experts emphasize that vaccination of stray dogs, stringent post-exposure vaccination for humans, and disruption of the rabies chain is essential to curb the problem.
The government's efforts to eliminate rabies by 2030 are crucial, and it is essential to address the gaps in surveillance and reporting to achieve this goal.
The community-based study highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to eliminate rabies, including improving surveillance, vaccination, and post-exposure care.
The WHO's estimate that India accounts for 35% of rabies deaths globally and 59.9% of rabies deaths in Asia underscores the country's significant contribution to the global burden of the disease.
The Indian government's efforts to make human rabies a notifiable disease across India will help improve surveillance and reporting, but more needs to be done to address the gaps in the current system.
The ICMR-funded study's recommendation to adopt a focused โOne Healthโ approach to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 is a step in the right direction, but it requires a multi-faceted approach that includes government, healthcare providers, and the community.
Raising awareness about rabies and the importance of vaccination and post-exposure care is crucial to preventing the disease and reducing the number of deaths.
The Indian government's goal to eliminate rabies by 2030 is ambitious, but achievable with a concerted effort from all stakeholders.
Ultimately, eliminating rabies in India will require a sustained effort to improve surveillance, vaccination, and post-exposure care, as well as a commitment to addressing the gaps in the current system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rabies?
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost invariably fatal once symptoms appear.
How is rabies transmitted?
Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, usually a dog.
What is the estimated annual number of deaths from rabies in India?
A community-based study estimated that 5,726 people die of rabies in India every year.
