The Curious Case of Missing Rabies Deaths in Rajasthan
In a medical anomaly that has raised eyebrows across public health circles, Rajasthan has reported zero human rabies deaths for two consecutive years despite administering anti-rabies vaccines to over 670,000 people following dog bites during the same period. This startling statistic comes amid growing concerns about the accuracy of rabies mortality data in the state.
Massive Vaccination Numbers Tell Different Story
The official data reveals a massive vaccination drive across Rajasthan. Over 6.7 lakh people received anti-rabies vaccines after dog bites in the last 18 months alone. The current fiscal year 2024-25 has seen 4.2 lakh persons vaccinated post dog-bite, while more than 2.5 lakh have already been vaccinated until September 2025.
Despite these staggering numbers that indicate significant exposure to potential rabies infection, the state health department maintains its official position of zero rabies fatalities. This contradiction has led experts to question the reliability of the state's disease surveillance system.
The Critical Missing Piece: Brain Tissue Testing
The controversy centers around the complete absence of confirmatory post-mortem brain testing in Rajasthan. During the entire two-year period with zero reported rabies deaths, not a single suspected case underwent the mandatory WHO-approved fluorescent antibody test (FAT) on brain tissue.
Health officials acknowledge that confirming human rabies requires post-mortem brain sampling, a procedure that needs family consent and is almost never performed in the state. Rajasthan has only two laboratories equipped to conduct this gold-standard test—one at SMS Hospital in Jaipur and another at AIIMS in Jodhpur.
Medical Reality Versus Official Statistics
Dr. Goverdhan Meena, an anti-rabies expert at SMS Hospital, highlighted the grim medical reality that contradicts official statistics. "Clinically, when a patient develops characteristic symptoms of hydrophobia and aerophobia after a dog bite, mortality is 100%," Dr. Meena stated. "No treatment exists once these signs appear. However, most such patients either die at home or in hospital without any confirmatory test. Their attendants take the body away, and the death is never recorded as rabies."
This pattern of underreporting creates a significant gap in understanding the true burden of rabies in the state, potentially affecting public health interventions and resource allocation.
Official Defense and Growing Criticism
A senior health department official defended the "zero deaths" figure, attributing it to high public awareness and extensive vaccine coverage. "Awareness is high – even illiterate persons rush for vaccination after a bite. Extensive vaccine coverage has prevented rabies cases," the official claimed. Regarding brain sampling, the official noted there is no law making it compulsory, and families rarely give consent after death.
However, critics argue that without the confirmatory test, the true impact of rabies remains invisible. This concern is particularly relevant given that the Supreme Court has repeatedly expressed concern over the rising menace of stray dogs on streets across the country.
The situation in Rajasthan highlights the critical need for robust disease surveillance systems and standardized testing protocols to accurately assess public health threats and implement effective prevention strategies.
