Rabies

Rabies is a viral infection of the brain and nervous system, spread mainly through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal — but it is 100% preventable with prompt treatment after exposure. India has one of the highest rabies death burdens in the world, mostly from dog bites. Free anti-rabies treatment is available at government hospitals.

How it spreads

• Bite of an infected animal — most often dogs in India; also cats, monkeys, bats, jackals, mongoose, and other wild or stray animals
• Rarely, through scratches or licking of broken skin or mucous membranes by an infected animal
• Person-to-person spread is extremely rare

Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear 1-3 months after a bite but can vary from days to years. Once they appear, death follows within days. Classic symptoms:

• Tingling, pain, or itching at the bite site
• Fever, headache, feeling unwell
• Anxiety, confusion, agitation
• Difficulty swallowing — the characteristic "fear of water" (hydrophobia)
• Excessive salivation
• Hallucinations
• Paralysis (paralytic form)
• Progresses to coma and death

There is no effective treatment once symptoms begin. This is why post-exposure prophylaxis immediately after a bite is so important.

What to do immediately after any animal bite

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes — this simple step substantially reduces rabies risk
• Apply antiseptic (povidone-iodine / alcohol) if available
• Go to a hospital or primary health centre urgently — do not wait to see if the animal was rabid
• Don't close or suture the wound unless necessary
• Tetanus booster if not recent
• Watch out for and manage secondary bacterial infection

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP is highly effective when started promptly:

• Anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) — a series of injections over several weeks
• Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) — for category III exposures (deep bites, head/neck/hand bites, mucous membrane contact) — infiltrated around the wound for immediate protection
• Free at government hospitals across India
• Start as soon as possible — the sooner, the better

Even if the animal seems healthy, start PEP. The animal can be observed (if it's a known pet) for 10 days; if it remains well, PEP may be stopped, but always on medical advice.

Prevention

• Vaccinate pet dogs and cats against rabies regularly
• Avoid unknown stray animals; don't feed or pet them
• Supervise children around animals
• Pre-exposure vaccination for people at higher risk — vets, animal handlers, travellers to endemic areas, lab workers, those working with stray animals
• Community rabies control programmes — stray dog vaccination, responsible pet ownership, animal-control reforms