Dog Bite Cases Surge in Karnataka, 2.3 Lakh+ Incidents Reported in 6 Months

Karnataka: Dog bite cases in Karnataka have surged dramatically in the first half of 2025, with the state recording over 2.31 lakh incidents between January and June. This marks a 36 percent jump from the same period in 2024, which saw 1.69 lakh reported bites. Nineteen rabies deaths have already been confirmed this year, compared to 18 during the same timeframe last year. For the entirety of 2024, the state recorded 3.6 lakh dog bites and 42 rabies fatalities.

The data, released by the State Health Department through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), arrives amid renewed public concern following a viral video that captured two stray dogs attacking a three-year-old girl in Hubballi.

Health officials claim the increase partly reflects improved documentation rather than a deteriorating situation. "The situation isn't spiralling. We’re now seeing improved documentation of cases," said Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department.

Gupta also said that awareness campaigns and strengthened response protocols are in motion. These include efforts to train medical staff, stock anti-rabies medicines, and issue stricter directions to urban local bodies for stray dog control. He warned against ignoring seemingly minor injuries. "Even minor bites or scratches should be treated promptly," he said.

Since human rabies was made a notifiable disease under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020, both public and private healthcare providers are required to report all suspected cases.

Among districts, Vijayapura reported the highest number of dog bites at 15,527, followed by the BBMP area (13,831), Hassan (13,388), Dakshina Kannada (12,524), and Bagalkot (12,392). Bangalore Urban logged 8,878 cases, while Bangalore Rural saw 4,408.

While BBMP and Bangalore Rural districts recorded no rabies deaths, Bangalore Urban alone accounted for nearly half of the total; nine out of nineteen deaths. The remaining cases were reported from Belagavi, Ballari, Bagalkote, Chikkaballapura, and Shivamogga.

District administrations have been directed to audit each rabies death to identify treatment delays, systemic gaps, and shortcomings in post-exposure protocols for handling infected animals.