Govt Declares Human Rabies a Notifiable Disease
Directs authorities to immediately report such cases to CMO, Nodal Officer
Srinagar, May 30 (WD): In a significant development, the government of J&K has declared human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897. This move is expected to enhance the monitoring and control of rabies, ensuring timely intervention and prevention of the disease.
As per a notification issued by the Health and Medical Education Department, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Wattan daily, all government and private health facilities, including medical colleges, have been directed to report any suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of human rabies to the respective Chief Medical Officer and the State Nodal Officer of the National Rabies Control Program. This directive aims to establish a robust reporting system for effective disease management.
The notification highlights the severity of rabies, describing it as an acute viral disease affecting all warm-blooded animals, including humans. It is primarily transmitted through animal bites and has an extremely high fatality rate. India accounts for a significant proportion of rabies deaths globally, making the control and prevention of this disease a critical public health priority.
Rabies is completely preventable through timely and appropriate Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). The notification emphasizes the importance of achieving the WHO Goal of zero deaths due to human rabies by 2023. Establishing a strong surveillance and disease reporting system is crucial for understanding the exact magnitude of the disease, which will help in developing effective regional strategies for prevention, control, and elimination of rabies.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of India, has previously requested all states and union territories to make human rabies a notifiable disease. This request, made in a letter dated September 20, 2021, underscores the need for mandatory reporting of all suspected, probable, and confirmed human rabies cases by both government and private health facilities, including medical colleges. This notification will facilitate contact tracing and prompt prophylactic measures to prevent further infections.
In response to this directive, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has exercised the powers conferred by section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, to declare human rabies as a notifiable disease in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This legal framework ensures the mandatory reporting and monitoring of rabies cases to curb its spread effectively.
The notification mandates that all government and private health facilities, including medical colleges, immediately report all suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of human rabies to the Chief Medical Officer of the concerned district. A copy of the report must also be sent to the State Nodal Officer of the National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) using the prescribed formats appended as Annexure-1 and Annexure-2 to the notification.
This notification comes into force immediately and will remain valid until further orders. The timely reporting and effective monitoring of human rabies cases are expected to significantly enhance the region’s capacity to manage and control this fatal disease, ultimately aiming to eliminate human rabies as a public health threat.
