In India, where stray dogs roam freely, rabies remains a terrifying reality. Viral videos showing victims screaming, trembling, or shying away from water before dying have sent shockwaves across social
media, igniting fear.
With India accounting for 36% of global rabies deaths—over 30,000 annually—due to rampant strays and low awareness, the panic is real. What is rabies, how does it spread, and can your pet pass it on? Let’s break down the disease and the practical tips one can follow to stay safe.
What Is Rabies?
Rabies is a vicious viral disease, nearly always fatal once symptoms emerge. It spreads mainly through the saliva of infected dogs, especially strays, which cause 97% of India’s cases. When a rabid dog bites, the virus travels through nerves to the brain, triggering catastrophic symptoms.
Beyond dogs, foxes, bats, and monkeys can carry it, though this is rare. In India, with 60 million stray dogs and 17 million bites yearly, the threat looms large, particularly for children under 15, who face 60% of bites.
The disease shows up in two forms. The “furious” form (80% of cases) makes victims act erratically—screaming, fearing water (hydrophobia), or panicking at breezes (aerophobia). Social media clips of these symptoms have caused alarm. The “paralytic” form (20%) brings muscle weakness, progressing to full-body paralysis. Both lead to coma and death within days if untreated.
How It Spreads
A bite from a rabid animal, usually a stray dog, is the primary culprit, as infected saliva enters the wound. Strays, often unvaccinated and exposed to other sick animals, turn aggressive, foaming at the mouth—a tell-tale sign. Wildlife like bats or unvaccinated pets can also transmit rabies, though it’s uncommon. The virus spreads only through broken skin, not casual contact.
What about pets? If vaccinated and well-maintained, household dogs pose almost no risk. Annual shots and hygiene keep them safe. But stray encounters are dangerous—India’s weak animal control lets rabid dogs roam, especially in slums or semi-urban areas like Telangana’s Peddapalli, where education drives are now ramping up.
Symptoms That Terrify: From Tremors to Tragedy
Rabies symptoms creep in 1-3 months post-bite, starting with flu-like fever or fatigue. Then it escalates: Furious cases see victims scream, choke on water, or flinch at air. Paralytic cases cause creeping weakness, ending in total immobility. Both forms lead to respiratory failure. Viral videos of these horrors have gripped Indian app users, but they’re a call to act fast, not freeze.
How To Prevent It
Rabies is 100% preventable with quick action. If bitten:
Clean the Wound: Wash with soap and hot water for 15 minutes to remove saliva.
Get Medical Help: Visit a doctor for a tetanus shot and anti-rabies vaccine, available free or cheap at government hospitals.
Follow Through: Complete the four-dose vaccine over 14 days to stop the virus before it hits the brain.
Pet owners should vaccinate dogs yearly, and keep them leashed. Report aggressive or drooling strays to local authorities. India’s Animal Birth Control programme aims to vaccinate strays, but it’s underfunded, so vigilance is crucial.
A Look At India’s Rabies Crisis
Rabies is a public health nightmare in India, worsened by stray overpopulation, poor waste management, and myths like rubbing chili on bites. Rural areas lack vaccine access, and urban parents fear for children near strays.
The 2023 National Rabies Control Programme targets 70% dog vaccination by 2030, but progress lags. Wash wounds, vaccinate pets, and stay alert to keep rabies at bay in India’s dog-filled streets.
