Rabies could be the very fatal disease but Louis Pasteur made it 100% preventable as he discovered Vaccine of rabies in July 1885. This virus affects the central nervous system including brain and spinal cord of human and animals. But it can be cured through vaccination. In animals, mass dog vaccination and minimizing the population of dog are ways to prevent from rabies. Similarly, in Human pre-exposure (before exposure- for highly risk individuals) and post exposure (for exposed individuals) vaccination is mandatory. Globally, around 59000 human deaths are estimated every year due to Rabies. And in Nepal, in recent years Rabies is reported to kill around 500 animals and 32 human beings. About 95% of the human cases of rabies are due to dog bites only. According to dog census carried out by National Zoonoses and Food Hygiene Research Centre (NZFHRC) in 1998, there was nearly 2 million population of dog. And according to recent data more than 30,000 street dogs in Kathmandu only and the number is rising.

 So it is highly mandatory to vaccinate dogs so that human can also be safe. And in Nepal various steps has been taken to prevent rabies. Many governmental and non-governmental organizations are doing their best for prevention of rabies. Organizations like Sneha's Care which has been actively working in the field of the stray dog management, their sanitation, treatment and health check. Similarly Kathmandu Animal Treatment (KAT), Himalayan Animal Rescue trust (HART) are other leading organization working in the field of dog health and management. Not only this, various educational institutions like Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS), Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) have been conducting various animal healths camps and free anti rabies vaccination campaign.

According to report by Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), Government of Nepal had allocated around 1 million USD to buy anti-rabies vaccine for fiscal year 2018/2019. Despite of several efforts done by the government and stakeholders the rabies cases have not yet decreased as expected. The main reasons behind increase in rabies cases are frequent contact between pet dogs and stray dogs as well as lack of harmony and collaboration between various organizations working in rabies control. Similarly, the rural area of Nepal which contribute significant number of animal bites and rabies cases has been overshadow by the government. Also these area lack adequate laboratory facilities for the proper diagnosis of the disease which result inadequate reporting and ineffective surveillance of rabies. And due to open border, there is frequent flow of rabid animals from India. All these reasons contribute to the persistence of rabies in Nepal.

 But despite of various reasons we can cure rabies if we take care of small things in our daily life. People need to be more aware about rabies. The government and non-government agencies should work together and launch more and effective rabies control programs throughout the country. Also joint effort is necessary from animal and human health sectors under one health approach. Then only the goal of achieving zero rabies by 2030 will be achievable in Nepal. And Yes, Rabies is 100% preventable. "We live once, let's not die of rabies."