Tamil Nadu has reported 2,09,081 dog-bite cases in the first 95 days of the year, and 13 people have died after contracting rabies, according to public health data.
Officials estimate the state may have up to 25 lakh stray dogs. While vaccination is carried out to some extent in large cities such as Chennai, rural areas see limited vaccination coverage, and dog-bite incidents are reported to be higher in villages than in urban centres.
Last year, 6,25,700 people were affected by dog bites in the state, and 34 deaths were attributed to rabies. This year’s figures for the first 95 days indicate a continued high caseload.
District-wise, the highest number of cases was reported from Salem (12,177), followed by Tiruchirappalli (9,939), Tiruvallur (9,265), Dindigul (8,239) and Villupuram (8,213).
Public health officials said bites from dogs, cats and monkeys must be cleaned properly with disinfectant to reduce infection risk. They warned that missing or delaying anti-rabies vaccination can make it difficult to prevent rabies, and added that deep wounds may require rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) along with vaccines. The anti-rabies vaccine schedule is to be taken in four doses—on day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 21—with immunoglobulin administered on the first day along with the vaccine.
