Health Dept Highlights Risks of Rabies; Urges Timely Vaccination
Dogs are the source of infection in up to 99% of human rabies cases, says RNT Medical College medical practitioner
UdaipurTimes, Sept 28, 2026 - To commemorate World Rabies Day on September 28, the Medical and Health Department is organising an awareness week until October 4 in Rajsamand district. Awareness programmes will be held at nursing colleges, schools and medical institutions.
This year, the theme for Rabies Day is "Stronger Together."
The week began with a rally by the Women's Health Training Institute emphasising that rabies is an incurable and fatal disease, and that it can be contracted by bites or scratches from infected and carrier dogs, cats, monkeys and other suspected animals. Treatment should be initiated immediately at the nearest medical facility without negligence and full vaccinations should be administered as advised by a doctor.
Carrying these important messages, nursing students took out a rally from RK District Medical Centre to Housing Board, Dhoinda, and nearby colonies.
Once the symptoms of rabies appear, this disease is incurable, hence in case of bite or scratch by any suspected animal, the injured area should be immediately washed with soap and clean water and the person should directly reach the nearest medical institution.
Those who own dogs or cats should have their pets vaccinated on time.
District Advisor Priya Kalra said that students in all nursing colleges and schools will be made aware of Rabies Awareness Week in the district and that departmental workshops and poster competitions will also be organised. In coordination with the Animal Husbandry Department, a vaccine drive will be conducted to raise awareness among pet owners of dogs and cats.
Meanwhile, Dr Bharti of the Anti-Rabies Clinic at RNT Medical College, Udaipur, has said that dogs are the source of infection in up to 99% of human rabies cases. Therefore, treating a dog bite as a minor injury and ignoring it can be risky. Dogs are the primary source of rabies transmission, but other infected animals such as cats, monkeys, foxes, jackals, mongooses and bats can also transmit the infection.
