Meghalaya: Rabies drive in Ri Bhoi gains urgency as india trails 2030 target

Correspondent

Shillong: With India aiming to eliminate rabies by 2030, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of Ri Bhoi District intensified its campaign today through an anti-rabies vaccination drive at Jorbil Killing, near Byrnihat.

Led by Dr. Aiban Fancon, the team administered vaccines to dogs in the village and surrounding areas, aiming to break the chain of transmission of the deadly virus. The drive comes in the wake of a suspected rabies-related death of a woman from the same village, underlining the urgent need for action.

Just a day earlier, officials from the Health Department, in collaboration with the Veterinary Department, conducted an awareness campaign in Jorbil Killing, educating residents about rabies risks from dog, cat, and monkey bites.

The two-day intervention is part of a broader state and national push to curb rabies amid alarming figures. In 2024 alone, India recorded nearly 27 lakh animal bite cases, with over 21.9 lakh involving dog bites. Children under 15 made up nearly 20% of the victims.

Despite increased efforts on the ground, the sheer scale of reported cases and 48 related deaths this year reveal how far the country still has to go to meet its 2030 rabies-free goal.

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