Karnataka Aims for Zero Rabies Deaths by 2030, Unveils Statewide Snakebite Action Plan
BENGALURU — The Karnataka government on Friday announced an ambitious push to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 and significantly reduce deaths from venomous snakebites, rolling out two comprehensive state action plans aimed at strengthening prevention and treatment systems.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao launched the State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE) and the State Action Plan for Snakebite Prevention and Control (SAPSE), saying the initiatives focus on prevention, surveillance, timely treatment, and coordinated action across departments.
The rabies elimination strategy aligns with the National Rabies Control Programme and the national goal of “Zero Human Deaths due to Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030.” The plan follows a One Health approach, bringing together the health, veterinary, urban development, and education sectors.
“Though rabies is preventable, it is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms appear. Early intervention and prevention are critical,” Rao said, adding that the state has set a firm target of reducing rabies deaths to zero by 2030.
Under the plan, anti-rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin will be provided free of cost at all Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, taluk hospitals, and district hospitals across Karnataka. Health facilities have been directed to maintain adequate stocks at all times.
Private hospitals have also been instructed to keep sufficient supplies and provide immediate treatment without demanding advance payment. Rabies was declared a notifiable disease in Karnataka in December 2022 to ensure systematic reporting and monitoring.
To oversee implementation, the government has set up joint steering committees at both the state and district levels. As part of a Rabies-Free Cities initiative, targeted interventions will be carried out in 11 major cities, including Bengaluru, Belagavi, Ballari, Davanagere, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, and Vijayapura.
The veterinary department will lead mass dog vaccination drives and dog population management efforts, while urban local bodies will focus on pet registration, vaccination monitoring, and improved waste management to curb stray dog congregation. Medical colleges are being tasked with strengthening anti-rabies clinics and training healthcare professionals to improve treatment protocols and reporting systems.
Alongside the rabies initiative, the government unveiled a separate action plan to address deaths caused by venomous snakebites. Developed in line with Central government guidelines, the plan emphasizes prevention, rapid treatment, capacity building for healthcare workers, and public awareness campaigns.
Snakebite cases were declared a notifiable disease in Karnataka in 2024. The state has committed to providing free treatment to snakebite victims, and private hospitals have been directed to offer immediate life-saving care without insisting on advance payment.
Officials said both action plans stress interdepartmental coordination, improved access to care, and community participation. The government has called on citizens, private institutions, and civil society groups to support the effort to eliminate rabies deaths and substantially reduce snakebite fatalities by 2030. (Source: IANS)
