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| - Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by Dr Priyamvada
Quick Take
A social media video claims that rabies does not exist at all. We fact-checked and found the claim to be False.
The Claim
An Instagram video reflects a conspiracy theory or misinformation regarding rabies, a viral disease that affects mammals, including dogs. In this video, the claimant presents his argument claiming that among a list of seven illnesses, none of them have been proven to exist.
For this fact-check, we will focus only on the claim related to rabies. The statement claims that rabies does not exist. Also, that the vaccination for rabies, which is commonly administered to dogs to prevent the spread of the disease and protect both animals and humans, is unnecessary or harmful.
We have attached a screenshot of how the post looks at the time of publishing this story.
Fact Check
Does rabies not exist at all?
No. Rabies is a part of the Rhabdoviridae family and has a long history. Rabies is a real, viral disease affecting mammals, including humans. It attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Rabies spreads primarily through the saliva of infected animals, usually through bites or scratches. While preventable through vaccination, rabies remains a significant public health concern globally, causing thousands of deaths each year.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC website) clearly states that rabies is preventable through a vaccine.
This claim is not based on scientific evidence and contradicts the established understanding of rabies prevention and control.
As per the available evidence, vaccination against rabies is 100% effective. Even after this level of efficacy, several misconceptions like fasting can prevent rabies circulate on social media. We would like to make it clear that vaccination is a critical public health measure to prevent the spread of the virus and protect both animal and human populations from this deadly disease.
Veterinary expert, Dr Vivek Arora, B.V.Sc. & AH, MIVIS says, “Whenever people come across statements like these, they always wonder what generates such viewpoints. In this world of scientific objectivity, data availability, and ready analysis for all forms of disease prevalence, such information only helps in spreading a false sense of safety and pseudo-complacency against life-threatening diseases. First of all, even the Government of India admits the presence of rabies in our public health regime. We still lose many lives yearly to rabies in the country. The World Health Organization still categorizes India as an endemic country for rabies. Such statements unfortunately reflect a bounded rationality, which I exhort should not and cannot be taken seriously. It is similar to the resistance and narrative against Covid vaccines. But we need not waste lives to realize that we depended on false information before wisdom dawns”.
In a panel discussion with THIP MEDIA on ‘Rabies prevention and control : Awareness is the key’ Dr Vivek Arora (Veterinary doctor) and Dr Kashyap Dakshini (General Physician) has discussed the fact that dog-mediated human rabies elimination is possible. The discussion throws light on rabies vaccine and measures to prevent rabies in humans and how to avoid and control the stray dogs issue in India.
If you found this fact-check informative, you can also read our debunk on McDonald’s ice cream allegedly containing Xylitol, a toxic substance for dogs. Additionally, we addressed the misconception regarding cats and dogs being responsible for increasing Candida auris fungal infection cases.
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