Maharashtra Health Department Declares Rabies as a Notifiable Disease

The state health department on Tuesday declared rabies – a fatal viral disease that spreads through the bite of rabid animals (mainly dogs) – as a notifiable disease. Doctors and hospitals will have to notify the health department when a patient with suspected rabies is admitted.

“Prevention, control and elimination of rabies from a geographical area can only be achieved through strong surveillance and disease reporting system,” said the state notification issued on Tuesday.

Rabies kills over 20,000 in India every year, with up to 60% of cases occurring in children under 15 years of age. The World Health Organisation has estimated that at least 200 rabies deaths occur in Maharashtra every year, but only about 20 are notified to the health authorities.