National Rabies Control Program (NRCB)
Rabies is an acute viral disease that causes fatal encephalomyelitis in virtually all the warm-blooded animals including human. The virus is found in wild and some domestic animals, and is transmitted to other animals and to humans through their saliva (following bites, scratches, licks on broken skin and mucous membrane). In India, dogs are responsible for about 97% of human rabies,followed by cats (2%), and others (1%).
The disease is invariably fatal and perhaps the most painful and dreadful of all communicable diseases in which the sick person is tormented at the same time with thirst and fear of water (hydrophobia). Fortunately, development of rabies can be prevented to a large extent if animal bites are managed appropriately and in time. In this regard the post-exposure treatment of animal bite cases are of prime importance.
Under the 12 five-year plan, National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) has been approved. The NRCP has both human and animal health components.