Delhi to Declare Human Rabies a Notifiable Disease: What This Means and Why It Matters

The Delhi government is all set to declare human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act. This move aims to strengthen disease surveillance and response mechanisms across the national

capital, since there has been a major rise in the cases of this deadly viral disease. Rabies is a zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin to appear. According to experts, it is a major global health concern – especially in countries like India, where dog-mediated transmission persists.

What happens under this move?

Under this new change, all government and private health facilities will have to legally report all suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of rabies to designated authorities as soon as they are identified. According to government sources, this step can help close gaps that are there in the reporting and response regarding the disease, especially in high-risk areas and individuals. It is also considered an important step towards the State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination, or SAPRE, which the Delhi government is in the process of drafting along with the local municipal body and the Animal Husbandry Department. Its major focus is on a “one health” approach, which helps understand the coordination between human health services and animal health systems. According to the Delhi government sources, the notification takes effect immediately and will remain in force until further orders. Detailed guidelines for reporting and coordination will soon be shared with all healthcare centres.

Doctors hail the decision

Doctors have hailed the notification decision, saying the move will only strengthen the resolve to contain rabies. “Rabies is a completely preventable yet fatal disease, and declaring it a notifiable disease in Delhi is a crucial public-health intervention. Mandatory reporting will help authorities track cases accurately, identify high-risk areas, and ensure timely post-exposure treatment for bite victims. Many rabies deaths occur due to delayed medical attention or lack of awareness, and notification will strengthen surveillance and accountability across both government and private healthcare facilities,” Dr Neha Rastogi, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis, told Times Now. “This step will also support better coordination between health departments, municipal bodies, and animal-control agencies,” she added.

Anti-rabies care is important

The government has said it is expanding the availability of rabies care across the national capital, which will help improve access to life-saving treatment. According to news reports, the anti-rabies vaccine, or ARV, is currently available at 59 health institutions across all 11 districts of Delhi. This is meant to ensure that people do not have to travel long distances or delay treatment after an animal bite, a delay that can prove fatal.

What happens when you get rabies?

The rabies virus gets into your body when the saliva or spit of an infected animal gets into an open wound – usually from a bite. It moves very slowly along nerves into your central nervous system – your brain and spinal cord. When it reaches your brain, the damage causes neurological symptoms. From there, rabies leads to coma and death. Rabies moves from an infected wound to your brain over time. There are several phases that most people go through:

• Incubation
• Prodromal phase
• Acute neurologic phase
• Coma and death

Signs and symptoms of rabies

While there may be no symptoms of rabies for several weeks after it enters your body, when it makes it to your central nervous system, you may experience a few signs like:

• High fever
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Bite wound burning, itching, tingling, pain, or numbness.
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Agitation and aggression
• Restlessness
• Hallucination
• Fast breathing
• Excessive salivation
• Paralysis
• Coma