Unprecedented rabies outbreak in Nepal’s Far Western Region: A call for urgent action
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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.