Puppy-bite rabies in Nepal

The knowledge gap about rabies in communities should be immediately addressed.

Rabies, a neglected viral disease, is one of Nepal's silent public health problems. Almost all the patients who died of rabies in the past in Nepal were bitten by dogs (stray). In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, dogs are the primary source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99 percent of all rabies transmission to humans. Hence, the world, including Nepal, has aimed to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. However, over the past five months, Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) has recorded at least 12 dog-mediated rabies cases, indicating an epidemic of rabies in Nepal. This triggers doubt about achieving the goal.