By Admin 
Rabies Deaths in Delhi: There is a huge difference between government claims and actual figures regarding rabies cases in Delhi. The central government had told in Parliament that not a single person died of rabies in the capital between 2022 and 2024, but the data obtained under Right to Information shows a completely different picture from this claim. According to the records of Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Disease Hospital under Delhi Municipal Corporation, 18 people have died due to rabies in the last three years. Of these, 6 deaths were recorded in 2022, 2 in 2023 and 10 in 2024. These figures directly conflict with the report made by Minister of State for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries S.P. Singh Baghel had presented it in Parliament.
What was in the report?
The government report said that zero human rabies deaths were recorded in Delhi from January 2022 to January 2025. However, in the same reply of the Lok Sabha, there was mention of dog bite cases. 6,691 dog bite cases were registered in Delhi in 2022, 17,874 in 2023 and 25,210 in 2024. These figures show that while human deaths were reported to be zero, dog bite cases have increased continuously every year. This difference raises serious questions about the monitoring system of the health system. Why is there such a gap in reporting of deaths when the disease is completely preventable? According to experts, this data highlights the lack of transparency of coordination and reporting.
It is necessary to upload data
Under the National Rabies Control Program of the central government, states have to prepare data on dog bites and rabies deaths every month and upload them on the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program portal. The ministry says that this system improves the monitoring of rabies and animal bites across the country. However, the data found in RTI shows that data reporting at the ground level is still incomplete and not in the correct manner. This is the reason why central and local level figures do not match each other.
The government had launched the mission
Regarding rabies, the government had launched the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 in 2021, which is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Animal Husbandry. Under this scheme, the National Center for Disease Control monitors matters related to human health, while the Department of Animal Husbandry looks after animal health. The objective of the scheme is to ensure continuous availability of vaccination, sterilization and anti-rabies vaccine and serum of dogs across the country. These medicines are provided free of cost under the National Health Mission and are included in the essential medicines list of the states.
How to prevent rabies
On one hand, the government is claiming zero deaths and on the other hand, deaths are being recorded in the hospital records, so the question arises whether there are serious flaws in the health monitoring and reporting system. Rabies is a disease that is 100 percent preventable, but it almost always proves fatal once symptoms appear.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.
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