Rabies-A Public Health View

Rabies is an extremely deadly viral disease and also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans.This particular type of zoonosis is known as direct anthropozoonosis. Rabies is most commonly observed in stray dogs and certain wild animals suchasbats, raccoons,skunksandfoxes.Humans typicallycontractthevirusthrough bitesor scratches from theseinfectedanimals.Dogs aretheprimarysourceofhuman rabies fatalities, accountingforupto99%ofall transmissionstohumans.InIndia,rabiesis endemicincertain regions and is responsible for 36% of the global rabies deaths. The rabies virus targets the central nervous system, causing encephalitis in the brain, which can lead to death in severe cases. World Rabies Day is celebrated every year on 28 September.