Canine terror: 1.6 lakh bitten in Karnataka this year, but no rabies deaths in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Dog bite cases have risen sharply in Karnataka this year. The state has seen an average of 596 dog bites daily in the first nine months of the year. This figure accounts for over 34% and 37% increase compared to 2022 (445 cases daily) and 2021 (436 daily), respectively.

In the first nine months of 2023, Karnataka saw more cases than it witnessed during all of 2021 and 2022. The state registered 1,62,883 dog bite cases from January to September this year, according to health department data accessed by TOI. In comparison, 2022 saw 1,62,624 dog bites and 2021 witnessed 1,59,247 cases.

Burhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) areas, which usually figure among districts reporting the highest cases, saw 15,285 dog bites in the first nine months of 2023, with a daily average of 56, according to civic body data. The numbers were lower than in 2022 when 22,090 dog bites (60 per day) were reported, but more than in 2021 which saw 13,520 dog bites (37 per day).

However, the number of deaths due to rabies has dipped. While two confirmed deaths due to rabies have been reported in Karnataka this year, the count stood at 15 last year. There have been no deaths due to rabies in Bengaluru this year. The corresponding number for 2022 was four.

Doctors say that in India, dogs, both pets and strays, are the commonest animals implicated in the transmission of rabies. As the viral disease is incurable and 100% fatal, they say prevention is absolutely necessary.

"If there is even one drop of blood, it needs wound wash with detergent soap and water, besides rabies immunoglobulin or rabies monoclonal antibodies injected into the bite site along with five doses of anti-rabies vaccine. If it is just a scratch without bleeding, then wound wash with soap and water and five doses of vaccine are enough," explained Dr DH Ashwath Narayana, immediate past president, Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI), and professor of community medicine, KIMS, Bengaluru.

According to doctors, soap is a stronger agent compared to some popular antiseptic liquids and strong carbolic soaps such as cloth/ vessel detergent bars destroy the virus. "The first step is thorough washing of the wound with soap and water. Antiseptics may be used thereafter. Also, it's very important that substances such as coffee powder, tree sap, lime, etc., aren't applied as they may promote entry of the virus into the nerve because of their corrosive chemical effect," said Dr Pretesh Rohan Kiran, associate professor, department of community health, St John's Medical College.

Health commissioner D Randeep said some dog bites may not have been reported. "The person or his or her caretaker must have ignored it. They might have washed the wound and felt that was enough and the dog would have turned out to be rabid."

70% strays vaccinated

As per a survey conducted by the Veterinary College, Hebbal, over 70% of street dogs in Bengaluru have antibodies in them, which indicate they have received at least one dose of anti-rabies vaccine. Experts say that if 70% of the dogs are vaccinated, the spread of the virus can be contained. "No rabies deaths have been reported within BBMP limits in recent times," said KV Trilok Chandra, special commissioner, health, BBMP.