Karnataka: Dog bite cases increase in 2023; 10 percent victims bitten by pet canines

Karnataka has reported a rise in dog bite cases to 2.15 lakh from January to November this year when compared to 1.62 lakh during 2022 and 1.59 lakh in 2021. In Bengaluru, stray dogs are attacking people as they are facing shortage of food leftovers in the roadsides due to door-to-door collection of garbage across the city, a senior official said. Over 10 percent of the victims are bitten by pet dogs, as per a health department report.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) : The number of dog bite cases has increased this year compared to last year in the Karnataka state. In the report of the health department, 2.15 lakh people have been bitten by dogs from January 1, 2023 to the end of November.

At least 10 percent of these victims are bitten by domestic dogs, while the remaining 90 percent are bitten by stray dogs. On the other hand, the state reported about 1.59 lakh dog bite cases in 2021 and about 1.62 lakh in 2022.

On an average, dog bite cases are registered at the rate of 5,080 per week and 700 per day in the state. More than 15,000 cases have been reported under Bangalore Metropolitan Corporation, over 11,500 in Dakshina Kannada district, 11,000 in Udupi, 10,000 in Chitradurga and 6,000 in Dharwad.

Rabies caused by dog bites has been declared a notifiable disease. The State Health Department has recently issued a circular to the government hospitals to ensure availability of adequate stock of anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulins, which can save lives from deadly rabies.

As civic workers go door to door to collect garbage in the capital, there is less food waste thrown on the streets. Due to this, there is a shortage of food for street dogs. Not every stray dog gets the food provided by dog lovers. Due to this, dogs are attacking humans for food, said Dr. Ravikumar, Joint Commissioner of the Bangalore Metropolitan Corporation.

Anti-rabies vaccination is being given to stray dogs. Due to this, the immunity of dogs is increased, officials said. They informed that 4 cases of rabies have been reported in the city so far.

Anti-rabies vaccine and 'rabies immunoglobulin' injections are being provided free of cost to dog bite victims in all government hospitals of the state. Commissioner of Health Department Dr. Randeep said that without considering APL and BPL card, no animal bite victims have been denied treatment.

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