Rabies

Rabies vaccine sales hit 5-year high in 2025 amid rise in dog bite cases

According to data from market research firm Pharmarack, the combined number of ARV and immunoglobulin vaccines sold in 2025 reached 8,510,000 units - the highest in five years

Dog bite first aid: What to do in the first 15 minutes to prevent rabies

Whether bitten by a pet or a stray, knowing the right first aid steps can prevent infection and rabies and speed up recovery, say health experts

Delhi moves to end rabies deaths with mandatory reporting and tracking

By declaring human rabies a notifiable disease, Delhi aims to tighten surveillance, ensure early treatment and move closer to its goal of zero human deaths from rabies

Can vaccinated pets still carry rabies? What pet parents must know

Vaccinated pets are highly protected against rabies, but no vaccine is perfect. Expert explains when risks are rare and why boosters still matter

Rabies fear in UP: Can milk from infected animal transmit the deadly virus?

A suspected rabies case in a buffalo sent panic through a UP village, with hundreds rushing for vaccines after learning funeral raita was made from its milk. But was the fear justified?

Fake rabies vaccine row: IIL says counterfeit batch no longer available

Indian Immunologicals Limited said the issue flagged by Australian authorities relates to a single counterfeit batch identified earlier and does not warrant a blanket warning against the vaccine

Australia's advisory against rabies vaccine over-cautious: Manufacturer

Days after Australia issued an advisory against counterfeit rabies vaccine in India, a public sector manufacturer of the vaccine 'Abhayrab' clarified that the concern revolves around a specific batch identified in January 2025, and did not merit a blanket warning against it. The vaccine manufacturer, the Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), said the advisory in its present form has the potential to create anxiety and mistrust among the public and healthcare practitioners. It asked the Australian government to consider reviewing its advisory. Around a week ago, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) said Australian travellers who have been administered the anti-rabies vaccine Abhayrab in India after November 1, 2023, should consider the vaccination invalid and initiate a new course of vaccination. The IIL has written to ATAGI, strongly refuting the "over-cautionary and misplaced reference" to a batch of vaccine manufactured in March 2024, and said it had ...

Australia warns of fake rabies vaccine, Abhayrab, in India; makers respond

Australia's immunisation advisory group says counterfeit batches of rabies vaccine Abhayrab have circulated in India since November 2023, potentially leaving bite victims unprotected

Karnataka announces ₹5 lakh relief for fatal dog-bite victims' families

According to the new directive, the families of individuals who die due to dog bites will receive ₹5 lakh as compensation from the state government

Rabies cases rise across US as CDC flags hotspots, urges public caution

Six deaths, rabid wildlife clusters, and falling pet vaccination rates raise alarms across US states, prompting CDC to warn of a growing rabies threat

Supreme Court revises order on stray dogs: Sterilise, vaccinate, and release

The Supreme Court has modified its earlier directive on stray dogs. They will now be sterilised and vaccinated, then released back to their localities. Aggressive and rabid dogs,

All stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be relocated to shelters, says SC

Supreme Court orders removal of stray dogs in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram to shelters, warning against obstruction and citing rising rabies and bite cases

SC orders capture of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, warns against resistance

In a sweeping order aimed at tackling the growing menace of dog bites and rabies, the Supreme Court has directed civic bodies across Delhi-NCR to round up all stray dogs

Rise in stray dog bites turns Indian streets unsafe for children, elderly

Spike in stray dog bites and death due to rabies threatens India's target of eliminating the fatal disease by 2030 under its National Rabies Control Programme. Civic bodies plan coordinated response

SC takes suo motu cognisance of report over dog bites leading to rabies

The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of a media report about incidents of dog bites leading to rabies. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan termed the news item published today in an English daily's Delhi edition as "very disturbing and alarming". "The news item contains some alarming and disturbing figures and facts," the bench said. It said every day, hundreds of dog bites were being reported in the city and on its outskirts, leading to rabies and ultimately, children and the aged were falling prey to the dreadful disease. "We take suo motu cognisance of this news item," the bench said. "Let this order be placed along with the news report before the Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders," it said.

Over 3.7 million dog bite cases, 54 human rabies deaths in 2024: Govt

More than 37 lakh cases of dog bites and 54 suspected human rabies deaths were reported during 2024, the government said on Tuesday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying S P Singh Baghel said the data on the total number of reported dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths, is collected from states/UTs under the National Rabies Control Program by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). As per the information provided by the NCDC, the total dog bite cases in 2024 stood at 37,17,336 while the total 'suspected human rabies deaths' were 54. Stating that municipalities are responsible to control the stray dog population, Baghel said they are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme to regulate the population of stray dogs. In addition, the Centre has notified the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which focuses on the neutering and anti-rabies

Over 9 million animal bites and 5,700 rabies deaths in India yearly: ICMR

Despite strong vaccine uptake, India's rabies fight is failing due to poor access to full post-bite care, especially immunoglobulin, the ICMR warns in its latest findings

Dog bite cases in India see almost 70% jump in three years, shows data

Alongside the rise in dog bite incidents, deaths caused by rabies also witnessed a sharp increase during the period under review, although the reasons behind this trend may vary

What is ZooWIN: Govt portal to monitor anti-rabies, anti-snake venom stocks

India records an estimated three to four million snake bites annually, resulting in approximately 50,000 deaths

SC to hear PIL seeking right to 'euthanasia' for rabies patients on Feb 10

The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a PIL seeking the right to passive euthanasia for persons afflicted with rabies. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran agreed to take up the petition filed by NGO All Creatures Great and Small on February 10 after the matter was mentioned for listing. In 2020, the top court issued notice to the Centre and sought responses from ministries of health and environment on the petition that was filed in 2019. In its plea, the NGO prayed that a procedure should be laid down for rabies patients to allow them or their guardians to opt for the assistance of physicians for assisted dying or passive euthanasia. On March 9, 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench of the SC held that right to life includes right to die and legalised passive euthanasia by allowing the creation of a 'living will' that could provide terminally ill patients or those in persistent vegetative state (PVS) with no hope of recovery a dignified exit by refusing medic