New Delhi, 18th November 2025 – Rabies, a preventable yet fatal viral disease, continues to pose a significant public health risk worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dogs are responsible for nearly 96% of human rabies cases, with the remaining 4% caused by bites from cats, monkeys, mongooses, wild cats, and cattle.

The Supreme Court’s order to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR has renewed focus on humane population control. Countries worldwide rely on sterilisation, vaccination, and strict pet laws to tackle this issue. Rabies, mostly spread through dog bites, is fatal but entirely preventable. Experts stress that awareness and timely treatment are key. Eliminating rabies through vaccination and education must be an urgent public health priority.

Health experts emphasize that any animal bite or scratch, whether from a pet or a stray, requires prompt medical attention. At a recent health forum at IHW, leading medical professionals warned of the ongoing rabies threat and shared prevention strategies with innovation & advancement.
Here is what experts across government, defence, and private hospitals had to say regarding best practices and critical guidelines for managing animal bites:

India leads the world in advanced rabies prophylaxis by manufacturing Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies (RmAbs), including WHO-collaborated Cocktail RmAbs. These innovations are listed on the WHO Essential Medicines List and recommended in their Position Papers, cementing India's role as a pioneer.

They shared Cocktail RmAbs is a breakthrough alternative tol Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) and equivalent to HRIG because they offer reliable production, low volume High potency, and equal efficacy, effectively solving RIG's limitations of supply issues. Even a recent Real World study on 1500 victims, Doctor & Patient rated good to excellent approx 92% tolerability.

Dr. Ksh. Manglem Singh, President of the Indian Medical Association, South East Manipur (IMASEM), addressing doctors and healthcare providers, said "Stay updated on guidelines, ensure complete prophylaxis, and conduct regular training for your teams. Rabies is entirely preventable, yet delayed or incomplete treatment can be fatal. Every healthcare worker must treat each exposure as an urgent case and educate patients about the risks."

Dr. Anurag Agarwal, MD (Pediatrics), FIAP FIPING Honorary Secretary General Consortium Against Rabies addressed parents, emphasizing the vulnerability of children "Children are at the highest risk. Parents must not ignore even minor scratches—every exposure requires medical attention. Awareness at home is critical; knowing how to act immediately after an animal bite can save lives. Vaccination and timely medical intervention are non-negotiable steps to prevent tragedy."

From a community safety perspective, Dr. Shweta Bhardwaj, Head of Department, Department of Medicine, Military Hospital, Agra, warned against traditional remedies "Do not use lime, turmeric, or other home treatments on animal bites. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and consult a doctor immediately. Misguided home remedies delay proper care, allowing the virus to progress. Community education and awareness are vital to prevent unnecessary deaths."

Dr. Ravish HS, Professor of Community Medicine Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bangalore APCRI, emphasized strengthening health infrastructure and technology: "Geo-tagging Anti-Rabies Clinics will help patients find care quickly. Mapping high-risk areas and ensuring vaccine availability is crucial. Smart use of technology and robust public health systems can significantly reduce rabies deaths."

Dr. Yogesh Gautam Chief Medical Officer, ARC Clinic Head, In-Charge, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, shared important guidelines on what to do after an animal bite, “Poor awareness about bite categorisation and prophylaxis remains a challenge. Any bite with visible bleeding, whether from stray, wild, or pet animals, is Category III and requires complete post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which includes thorough wound washing for 15 minutes with soap and water, passive immunisation through Rabies Immunoglobulin or Cocktail Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies injected at the bite site (mandatory for Category III bites), and administration of the Anti-Rabies Vaccine for Category II and III bites. It is noteworthy that India is leading the way in passive immunisation against rabies, being the only country in the world producing Cocktail Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies.”

While rabies is entirely preventable through timely vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis, thousands of deaths still occur each year, predominantly in Asia and Africa. Experts unanimously agree that increasing public awareness, ensuring prompt medical treatment, and strengthening healthcare systems are vital steps to eliminate this fatal disease once and for all.