New Delhi, Jan 4, 2026: The Delhi government will soon declare human rabies as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, aiming to improve surveillance, early detection, and timely treatment.

Key Highlights

• Health Minister: Pankaj Kumar Singh emphasized this is a step toward zero human deaths from rabies in Delhi.
• Mandatory Reporting:
  • All government and private health facilities—including medical colleges and individual practitioners—must report suspected, probable, and confirmed cases to health authorities.
• Purpose:
  • Strengthen disease surveillance.
  • Enable swift public health action to prevent outbreaks.
  • Facilitate coordination between human and animal health systems.

Rabies Control Measures

• State Action Plan: Being finalized in coordination with local bodies, the Animal Husbandry Department, and other stakeholders.
• Vaccination Facilities:
  • Anti-rabies vaccine: Available at 59 health facilities across all 11 districts.
  • Anti-rabies serum: Available at 33 designated health facilities and hospitals.
• Focus on prevention in humans and animals, particularly dogs, which are the main carriers of rabies in India.

Expected Impact

• Early detection and reporting will allow targeted measures in high-risk areas.
• Aims to ensure no human death due to rabies, highlighting that the disease is preventable with timely treatment.

The notification will come into force immediately upon issuance and remain in effect until further orders, with detailed reporting guidelines to be shared with all relevant institutions.

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