Bengaluru’s health authorities have taken a bold step forward in public health with the launch of two comprehensive state action plans aimed at eradicating human rabies deaths from dogs by 2030 and drastically reducing fatalities from venomous snakebites. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao unveiled the State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination and the State Action Plan for Snakebite Prevention and Control on Friday, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to these preventable killers.
The rabies elimination strategy adopts a ‘One Health’ approach, integrating efforts across health, veterinary, urban development, and education sectors. Rabies remains nearly always fatal once clinical symptoms appear, making swift intervention and prevention critical. The plan emphasizes strengthening prevention, treatment, surveillance, and coordinated interdepartmental responses under the National Rabies Control Programme.
Minister Rao announced that Karnataka has set an ambitious target of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Free anti-rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulins will be available at all primary health centers, community health centers, taluk hospitals, and district hospitals statewide. These facilities have been directed to maintain ample stockpiles at all times.
Private hospitals have also received strict instructions to keep sufficient stocks and provide treatment without demanding advance payments. In December 2022, the Health and Family Welfare Department declared rabies a notifiable disease to ensure systematic reporting and monitoring.
To drive effective implementation, the government has established joint steering committees at state and district levels for coordination and oversight. Under the Rabies-Free Cities Initiative, targeted interventions are underway in 11 major cities including Bengaluru, Belagavi, Ballari, Davangere, Hubli-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, and Vijayapura.
The Veterinary Department will lead mass dog vaccination drives and population management efforts. Urban local bodies are tasked with pet registration, vaccination monitoring, and waste management to curb stray dog congregations.
Medical colleges are bolstering anti-rabies clinics, training healthcare professionals on treatment protocols, and improving reporting systems. In parallel, a dedicated snakebite action plan, aligned with central government guidelines, focuses on prevention, timely treatment, capacity building for healthcare workers, and public awareness.
Snakebite cases were declared notifiable in 2024. Victims will receive free treatment, and private hospitals must provide immediate life-saving care without upfront payments. Officials highlighted the plans’ emphasis on interdepartmental coordination, better access to care, and community involvement.
The government has appealed to citizens, private institutions, and civil society organizations to collaborate in achieving zero rabies deaths and significantly reduced snakebite fatalities by 2030, marking a new era in Karnataka’s public health landscape.