On the occasion of World Rabies Day, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Mumbai becomes rabies-free by 2030. The announcement was made as part of the civic body’s ongoing Mumbai Rabies Elimination Programme (MREP), which was launched in collaboration with the global organisation Mission Rabies.
Since the introduction of this programme in 2023, more than one lakh dogs across the city have already been vaccinated. The initiative has been designed to combine mass dog vaccination with sterilisation procedures, community awareness campaigns, and structured health education sessions. To ensure proper monitoring and coverage, modern digital tools such as GPS tracking and the WVS mobile application are being employed.
A robust network of Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) centres is being maintained, with 163 such centres currently operational across BMC-run health facilities. Among these, 70 centres are offering evening services to accommodate working citizens. Kasturba Hospital has established a dedicated rabies ward, while both anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin continue to be made available across BMC hospitals.
Data provided by the civic authorities indicated that nearly one lakh instances of dog bites had been reported in 2024. However, it was clarified that 15 to 20 per cent of these figures accounted for duplicate entries and patients from outside Mumbai.
In a public message, BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani emphasised the importance of collective effort in eliminating the disease. He reminded citizens of the theme of this year’s World Rabies Day, “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” and observed that rabies prevention could not be confined to the responsibility of a single institution but demanded active involvement from every stakeholder in society.
Advisories have been issued to guide citizens on necessary precautions after an animal bite. These include immediate washing of the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, avoidance of unscientific or harmful remedies such as applying oil or turmeric, and completion of the recommended vaccination schedule under medical advice.
Additional measures are also being pursued through the sterilisation of stray dogs and cats to manage the animal population in the city. Awareness programmes this year alone have reached more than one lakh students and around 75,000 members of the community, ensuring that knowledge about rabies prevention is being spread at both institutional and grassroots levels.
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