Tamil Nadu has recorded 4.68 lakh people affected by dog bites over the past six months, according to public health officials. During the same period, 24 people reportedly died due to rabies.
Local bodies spend several crores of rupees every year to control the breeding of stray dogs, but the number of dogs continues to rise, officials said. The state is estimated to have around 25 lakh dogs.
Vaccination drives for street dogs are being carried out in major cities, including Chennai, but authorities say it has not been possible to cover all dogs fully. As a result, fatal incidents linked to dog bites continue to be reported.
District-wise figures cited include Salem with 28,166 cases and three deaths, Cuddalore with 22,113 cases and three deaths, Tirunelveli with 23,095 cases and no deaths, and Chennai with 9,229 cases and three deaths.
Officials noted that during the same period last year, 6,25,700 people were affected and 34 died of rabies, indicating a decline this year. They cautioned that bites from dogs, cats and monkeys can lead to infection if wounds are not properly cleaned with disinfectants, and that missing or delaying vaccines can make it difficult to prevent rabies.
