West bengal's one health campaign against rabies

Rabies, a fatal zoonotic disease, remains a global public health challenge, causing approximately 59,000 human deaths annually. It poses a notable challenge in West Bengal, contributing 43% of India’s rabies cases. The One Health approach brings together human, animal, and environmental health efforts to confront rabies. This study tested a two-year intervention (2023–2025) in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, combining mass dog vaccination, community education and environmental cleanup. Results showed a 70% reduction in canine rabies cases and a 60% decrease in human bite incidents. Awareness of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) rose by 50%, and stray dog sightings dropped by 25%. Challenges included vaccine shortages and community resistance to stray dog management. This model supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 zero-death goal and offers a scalable approach for rabies control in high-burden regions.