The silent bites: a wake-up call for rabies awareness

Rabies is an acute, progressive, and fatal zoonotic disease caused by viruses of the genus Lyssavirus. The disease primarily spreads to humans through the bite of infected animals, most commonly dogs, and continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths annually, especially in Asia and Africa. Despite the availability of effective vaccines and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), rabies persists as a major public health problem due to poor awareness, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate vaccination coverage of reservoir hosts. Advances in diagnostic methods, modern vaccines, and monoclonal antibody therapies are contributing to better prevention and control. The adoption of a coordinated One Health approach, emphasizing mass dog vaccination, timely human prophylaxis, and community education, is essential for achieving the global goal of rabies elimination.