The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India has recently launched the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP). This programme is designed to address the prevention and control of rabies, a significant health concern in India. The following article discusses the objectives of the NRCP, details about rabies, the status of the disease in India, and the initiatives taken to deal with it.
Objectives of the National Rabies Control Programme
The NRCP outlines specific objectives aimed at the prevention and control of rabies. These include the provision of free rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin through national initiatives. The programme also focuses on training for appropriate bite management, prevention and control of rabies, surveillance, and intersectoral coordination.
Furthermore, the NRCP aims to strengthen surveillance of animal bites and reporting of rabies deaths. An integral part of the program is creating awareness about rabies prevention to allow for early detection and treatment.
Understanding Rabies
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease caused by a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus. The virus is usually present in the saliva of a rabid animal, such as dogs, cats, monkeys, and is transmitted through their bite. Consequently, this leads to depositing of the virus into the wound.
Once clinical symptoms manifest, rabies is almost 100% fatal. Death often occurs between four days to two weeks due to cardio-respiratory failure. Domestic dogs are responsible for up to 99% of rabies virus transmission to humans. The incubation period can vary greatly, ranging anywhere from one week up to a year.
Rabies Symptoms and Treatment
Early symptoms of rabies resemble that of flu and may persist for several days. These include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, confusion, hyperactivity, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, hallucinations, and insomnia. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, avoiding contact with wildlife, and seeking medical care after suspected exposure before symptoms begin.
Rabies in India
India is highly endemic for rabies and accounts for 36% of the world’s rabies deaths annually. The disease leads to an estimated 18,000-20,000 deaths every year. Children under 15 years are particularly vulnerable as bites often go unnoticed and unreported in this age group. In India, dogs are responsible for about 97% of human rabies transmissions, followed by cats (2%), and other animals like jackals and mongooses (1%).
Initiatives to Deal with Rabies
In dealing with rabies, the central government has enacted the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023 to control the population of stray dogs. The primary focus of these rules is on the anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs and the neutering of stray dogs to stabilize their population.
Another initiative is the ‘National Action Plan For Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) from India by 2030’. The plan focuses on controlling the stray dog population and managing stray dogs, primarily under the mandate of local bodies.
While progress is being made to control and prevent the spread of rabies in India, it remains a significant public health concern. The initiatives and programmes laid out by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are critical steps towards minimizing the disease’s impact.
