Karnataka has recorded eight deaths from rabies in just two months this year, with Bengaluru accounting for half of these fatalities. According to the state Health Department, three of the four deaths in Bengaluru occurred at the Epidemic Diseases Hospital near the Swami Vivekananda Road Metro Station, which is the designated isolation hospital for suspected rabies cases. These victims include a 38-year-old man from Haryana, a 36-year-old from Chitradurga, and a 26-year-old from Tumakuru. The fourth fatality was that of a four-year-old boy who died at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) on January 5.
In addition to the Bengaluru cases, two people died in Belagavi, and one each in Ballari and Shivamogga due to dog-mediated rabies. As of February 23, 2025, the Health Department has recorded 66,489 dog bite cases, a significant increase from the 45,173 reported during the same period last year. Notably, Vijayapura, Bengaluru’s BBMP limits, and Hassan lead the state in dog bite incidents.
Dr. Ansar Ahmed, Project Director of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, attributed the rise in cases to better surveillance and reporting. He emphasized that while not every dog bite leads to rabies, immediate treatment, including washing the wound with soap and sterile water, is crucial to avoid complications.
Meanwhile, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services department has stressed the need for increased animal vaccination and public awareness. Rabies transmission isn’t limited to street dogs alone; the risk is also elevated in forested areas where contact with monkeys, bats, and other animals is more frequent. Officials highlighted the importance of prompt reporting and action following animal bites to ensure timely access to the rabies vaccine, urging better collaboration between local bodies and health authorities.
Read also: