Unprecedented rabies outbreak in Nepal’s Far Western Region: A call for
urgent action
Abstract
Rabies, a deadly zoonotic disease caused by lyssaviruses, poses an
escalating and severe threat in Nepal’s far western region. The recent
unprecedented outbreak of rabies has surged across the Kailali and
Kanchanpur districts of Sudurpaschim province, marked by a staggering
92.30% rabies positivity rate in suspected samples. Within a year,
there were 84 confirmed outbreaks, with Kailali reporting 32 and
Kanchanpur reporting 50, which underscores the severity of the situation
in these districts. The disease has affected diverse animal species,
including pigs, which marks the first case in Nepal. Considering the
historically low rabies cases in the province, the current situation is
alarming and necessitates prompt government intervention. Challenges
include the absence of a comprehensive national rabies control policy,
limited resources, and inadequate awareness in rural areas. To address
this crisis, urgent action is necessary, requiring a multidisciplinary
approach, collaboration between government and non-government agencies,
prioritization of rural areas, improved health infrastructure, and
strengthened surveillance.