SOLVING THE DOG BITE PROBLEM

The “dog bite menace" is a public health and safety issue, especially for children, the disabled, and elders, particularly concerning stray dogs.

- DR P.S.VENKATESH RAO

Dog bite cases have surged in India, with 3,715,713 cases reported in 2024, 3,052,521 cases in 2023, and 2,189,909 cases in 2022, By July 2025, over 2.6 million cases were reported, and the 2025 total could exceed 4.5 million at this rate. In 2024, the states with the highest number of cases were Maharashtra (4,85,345), Tamil Nadu (4,80,427), and Gujarat (3,92,837). In 2024, there were 54 reported rabies deaths, with the highest numbers in Maharashtra (14), Uttar Pradesh (6), and Karnataka (5). The majority of severe dog bites in children who are hospitalized are to the head and neck area, especially in those under the age of 5. Fatalities are most commonly caused by blunt force trauma to the head or severe blood loss from multiple wounds. Cynophobia is the intense fear of dogs, often from a past traumatic experience. Symptoms include panic attacks, sweating, and rapid heart rate. Official measures for stray dogs, like sterilization, vaccination, and the creation of shelters, have proved inadequate. The Supreme Court has taken note of the problem, criticizing states for noncompliance and ordering chief secretaries to appear before the court to explain their actions.