New Delhi, Aug. 5 -- India will, for the first time, investigate every suspected human rabies death through joint teams drawn from health, veterinary, municipal and forest departments, as the Centre moves to tighten surveillance and speed up containment amid persistent rabies fatalities.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) mandating joint investigation teams at the national, state, district and block levels, according to two government officials and the document, Standard Operating Procedure for Joint Investigation of Suspected Human Rabies Deaths, reviewed by Mint.

The protocol aims to confirm rabies deaths, trace the animal source, identify exposed contacts and ensure timely v...