On World Rabies Day, BMC pledges to make Mumbai rabies-free by 2030

At present, 163 Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) centres function at BMC-run health facilities, with evening services at 70 of them. Kasturba Hospital has also set up a dedicated rabies ward. The civic body said both ARV vaccines and immunoglobulin are available at its hospitals.

According to civic data, nearly one lakh citizens reported dog bites in 2024, though this figure includes duplicate entries and patients from outside Mumbai, estimated at 15–20 per cent.

BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani appealed for collective participation, noting this year’s World Rabies Day theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community.” He said, “Rabies prevention cannot be limited to one institution but requires active involvement from individuals, stakeholders, and society at large.”

The BMC has also issued public advisories on precautions after dog bites. These include washing wounds with soap and water for 15 minutes, avoiding unscientific remedies such as applying oil or turmeric, and completing anti-rabies vaccination as per medical advice.

Beyond vaccination, the veterinary department is sterilising stray dogs and cats to control the animal population. Awareness programmes this year have reached over one lakh students and 75,000 community members. Rabies Response Teams (RRTs) and Dog Control Units (DCOs) are investigating bite incidents and conducting ring vaccination when required.

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