KATHMANDU: Rabies claims approximately 100 lives in Nepal every year, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Food Safety. About 99 percent of human rabies cases in the country are transmitted through dog bites. The ministry estimates that nearly half of Nepal’s population resides in high-risk areas.
During the fiscal year 2081/082, there were 223,510 reported animal bite incidents nationwide, with 96 percent attributed to dogs. Medical experts describe rabies as a fatal viral disease. Once an infected animal bites or its saliva enters a wound, the virus invades the nervous system and brain. Because the disease is almost universally fatal once symptoms appear, timely vaccination is critical.
Globally, an estimated 59,000 people die from rabies annually. Of these deaths, 47 percent occur in Southeast Asia, while 32.5 percent are recorded in African nations. Children under 15 account for 40 percent of all rabies-related fatalities worldwide.
Nepal has set a target to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Currently, rabies vaccines are available at 286 health centers across the country. The ministry advises that if bitten by an animal, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, followed by immediate medical attention. Physicians warn against applying home remedies such as oil, soil, or herbal pastes to the wound.
