The Delhi government is taking a decisive step towards eradicating rabies deaths in the national capital. In a significant public health move, the administration is set to officially declare human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act. The primary goal of this notification is ambitious yet clear: to achieve zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies in Delhi.
What Does Making Rabies Notifiable Mean?
Once the notification is formally issued, it will become mandatory for every healthcare provider in the city to report cases of human rabies. This requirement applies universally to all government and private health facilities, medical colleges, and individual practitioners. They will be legally bound to inform the health authorities about any suspected, probable, or confirmed cases of human rabies they encounter.
Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh emphasized the critical nature of this initiative, stating, "Rabies is a preventable disease, and no death due to rabies is acceptable." This move is designed to strengthen disease surveillance, ensure early reporting, and trigger a swift public health response. Early detection is vital because rabies is almost 100% fatal once clinical symptoms appear, but it is entirely preventable with prompt medical intervention after exposure.
The Scale of the Problem and Current Infrastructure
The urgency of this action is underscored by official statistics on dog bites in the city. In 2023, Delhi recorded a staggering 51,773 dog bite cases. The data for the current year shows the trend continuing, with 44,995 cases reported just by August 2025. These numbers highlight the persistent risk of exposure that Delhi's residents face.
To manage this risk and ensure treatment access, the Delhi government has established a network of healthcare centers. Currently, the anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) is available at 59 health facilities spread across all 11 districts of Delhi. For more severe exposures requiring passive immunization, the rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is stocked at 33 designated hospitals and facilities. Together, these centers form the essential backbone of the city's rabies prevention and post-exposure treatment infrastructure.
A Coordinated Push for Rabies Elimination
The notification of rabies is not a standalone measure. It is identified as a key strategic step within a broader, coordinated plan. The Delhi government is concurrently in the process of finalizing its comprehensive State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE). This plan is being developed in coordination with local municipal bodies, the animal husbandry department, and other relevant stakeholders.
The mandatory reporting system is expected to yield multiple benefits for public health management. It will help authorities accurately track disease trends, improve coordination between human and animal health systems, and allow for the implementation of targeted preventive measures in identified high-risk areas. The government is also focusing on strengthening vaccination facilities, not just for humans but also for dogs and other animals, addressing the disease at its source.
By making human rabies a notifiable disease, Delhi is aligning its public health machinery to systematically chase the target of eliminating a deadly but entirely preventable scourge from the city.
