The Delhi government has taken a significant and strict step to prevent deaths from rabies. The government has declared rabies a notifiable disease. This means that it will now be mandatory to report every suspected and confirmed rabies case to the government.
Following this decision, all government and private hospitals, medical colleges, and private doctors in Delhi will be required to immediately report every rabies patient to the health department. The government’s clear goal is to reduce human rabies deaths in Delhi to zero.
Why is rabies such a dangerous disease?
Rabies is a deadly disease. Once symptoms appear, saving a patient’s life becomes nearly impossible. However, the good news is that rabies is completely preventable with timely vaccination and proper treatment. This is why the government has made it a notifiable disease, so that no case remains undisclosed and treatment is not delayed.
Free vaccination and treatment, strong arrangements made by the government
The Delhi government has made robust arrangements for treatment in the capital to deal with rabies:
- Anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) is available completely free of cost at 59 health centres across all 11 districts of Delhi.
- Anti-rabies serum (RIG), given in severe cases, is available in 33 select major hospitals in Delhi.
The purpose of these facilities is that no person should lose his life due to lack of money or treatment.
Government’s action plan to eliminate rabies
The Delhi government is preparing a special plan to completely eliminate rabies, called State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE).
The main objective of this scheme is:
- Prevention of rabies transmitted by dogs and other animals
- To ensure that there are no deaths from rabies among humans
- Strengthening vaccination coverage for dogs and other animals
The government believes that vaccination of animals along with humans is necessary, only then Delhi can be made completely rabies-free.
What did the Health Minister say?
Delhi Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said, “Rabies is a disease that is completely preventable, hence not a single death due to it will be acceptable.”
He said that making rabies a notifiable disease will strengthen monitoring of the disease, patients can be identified early and treatment can be started on time.
The Health Minister also clarified that this new rule will come into effect immediately upon notification and will remain in effect until further notice. Detailed guidelines regarding disease reporting and coordination between departments will soon be sent to all hospitals.