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According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, around 5,726 people die of this disease annually in India. However, WHO estimates are much higher
Among other symptoms, rabies patients develop extreme agitation, hydrophobia (fear of water) and excessive salivation. (AI Generated)
Rabies, one of the deadliest viral diseases known to humankind, continues to claim thousands of lives in India each year. Caused by the bite of infected animals such as dogs, cats or monkeys, rabies has no cure once symptoms appear, making prevention the only line of defence. Globally, just six people are known to have survived rabies infection so far, underlining its near 100 percent fatality rate.
Experts warn that the disease, though preventable, becomes untreatable once symptoms set in. Patients develop extreme agitation, hydrophobia (fear of water), excessive salivation and even abnormal behaviour such as barking like a dog. In advanced stages, seizures, paralysis and brain dysfunction occur, eventually leading to death. The condition is so distressing that patients are often kept in isolation.
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According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), around 5,726 people die of rabies annually in India. However, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates are much higher, placing the figure at 18,000 – 20,000 deaths every year, accounting for 36 percent of global rabies fatalities. Children form a significant proportion of these victims.
The rabies virus belongs to the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. Once transmitted through a bite, it travels via blood cells and nerve junctions to the brain and spinal cord. The virus creates a protective shield around itself, effectively blocking the body’s immune system and antiviral drugs from attacking it. As the infection spreads, brain cells are destroyed and the nervous system collapses, shutting down vital functions of the body.
Despite decades of research, no effective cure exists for rabies once the disease accours. “Rabies vaccination is available, but it works only until symptoms appear. Once a patient develops rabies, no medicine can save them,” says Professor Dr Suneet K. Singh, Director of Dr Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, New Delhi.
The only effective measure remains post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a combination of immediate wound cleaning and timely anti-rabies vaccination after an animal bite. Dr Singh emphasises that one should never ignore the wound size or severity. “Whether the bite seems minor or severe, it is crucial to get the anti-rabies vaccine at the earliest. Prevention is the only treatment for rabies,” he says.
Although ongoing research worldwide is exploring possible therapies, scientists acknowledge that breaking through the virus’s protective shield remains the biggest challenge. Until then, awareness, vaccination and timely medical response remain the strongest weapons against one of the deadliest diseases known to humanity.
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Author: News18
