J&K Govt declares Human Rabies a notifiable disease

Srinagar, May 30: In a significant move, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has declared human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897.
According to a notification issued by the Health and Medical Education Department, 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.

The notification states that rabies is an acute viral disease affecting warm-blooded animals, including humans, and is caused by animal bites. It has an extremely high fatality rate, with India accounting for 59.9% of rabies deaths in Asia and 35% of deaths globally.
“Rabies is completely preventable by timely and appropriate Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). In order to achieve the WHO Goal of zero deaths due to human rabies by 2023, it is important to establish a strong surveillance and disease reporting system so that the exact magnitude of the disease can be assured,” the notification reads.

The notification cites a letter from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, requesting all states and union territories to make human rabies a notifiable disease. This will make it mandatory for all government and private health facilities to report all suspected, probable, and confirmed human rabies cases as per the ‘Guidance Document’ for Rabies as a notifiable disease formulated by the National Rabies Control Program.
“Notification will facilitate contact tracing and promptly prophylactic measures to prevent infection in other people exposed to the same source,” the notification states.
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has exercised powers conferred by Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, to declare ‘Human Rabies’ as a ‘notifiable disease’ in the Union Territory.
All government and private health facilities, including medical colleges, have been directed to immediately report all suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of ‘Human Rabies’ to the Chief Medical Officer of the concerned district, with a copy to the State Nodal Officer, National Rabies Control Program, in the prescribed format.
The notification has come into force with immediate effect and will remain valid until further orders.