Tamil Nadu has witnessed an alarming rise in rabies-related deaths and dog bite cases over the past year, drawing concern from public health experts and government authorities.
There has been a more than 80% rise in rabies death cases in Tamil Nadu in 2024. The state recorded 40 rabies-related fatalities, a significant increase from the 22 deaths reported in 2023. The previous year, 2022, recorded 28 rabies deaths, and 2021 had 19 deaths. In 2020, there were 20 rabies deaths.
Here are the reported rabies deaths in Tamil Nadu over the years:
Year - Deaths
2017 - 16
2018 - 31
2019 - 19
2022 - 28
2023 - 22
2024 - 40
The state saw a rise in dog bite incidents, with 4.79 lakh cases reported last year, compared to 4.41 lakh in 2023. Tamil Nadu’s increasing dog bite cases reflect an urgent need for better control and management measures.
Each year, Chennai typically records between 25,000 and 30,000 dog bite incidents. However, despite these high numbers, no rabies deaths were recorded in the city last year.
Despite efforts by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), which has initiated a census and mass immunization program for stray dogs, rabies deaths and dog bite cases remain a significant public health concern. The state health department is working to control the dog population, and there are calls for intensified vaccination campaigns.
Dr. TS Selvavinayagam, the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, emphasized the importance of intensified vaccination coverage by local bodies and the veterinary department, noting that the state health department is impacted when rabies cases surge, affecting more people.
The most recent dog population survey conducted by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) in September highlighted a notable rise in the stray dog population in Chennai.
The dog population has risen to 1.80 lakh from 58,000 in 2018. The Ambattur zone (Zone 7) holds the largest number of stray dogs, totaling 23,980, but just 18% of them have been sterilized. In Chennai, just 27% of the dog population has undergone sterilization.
The Greater Chennai Corporation is expanding its Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers, with five new centers being set up to carry out 30,000 sterilizations annually. Mass vaccination campaigns targeting 1.8 lakh dogs have been initiated, with mass vaccination in Zone 5 already completed.
M. Jagadeesan, GCC’s City Health Officer, mentioned that the focus is on managing the dog population and mass vaccination. The corporation aims to vaccinate approximately 1.8 lakh dogs through a zonal mass vaccination initiative. Vaccination in Zone 5 has been completed, and efforts are now underway for other zones with dogs aged over six months being sterilized.
Officials pointed out that most other districts do not have accurate data on the dog population, which is impacting vaccination campaigns and ABC surgeries. A senior health official explained that the health department has to handle the affected cases, but without proper data on dog populations, it’s challenging to carry out control activities.
Public health experts also emphasize that misconceptions about dog bites play a major role in the spread of rabies.
Dr. K. Kolandaisamy, former Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, warned that many people mistakenly believe bites from puppies or vaccinated dogs are not dangerous. People tend to ignore the need for vaccination in these cases, even though bites to areas like the arms, chest, face, and neck, which are close to the brain, need immediate attention.
Dr. Kolandaisamy explained that it takes seven days for antibodies to form after vaccination, and any delay in vaccination can prove fatal, as the wild virus can cause the disease in about 10 days.
Delaying wound washing and vaccination is a major risk factor that needs to be avoided.
The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes dog bites into three distinct levels.
Category 1: No break in the skin; no vaccination required.
Category 2: Minor scratches or abrasions; vaccination required.
Category 3: Deep bites or lacerations; both vaccination and immunoglobulin required.
However, category 1 bites are often treated as category 2 in public healthcare facilities, as it is difficult to accurately determine whether the skin is intact during a physical examination. In the case of category 3 bites, immunoglobulin is sometimes skipped due to its high cost (₹40,000–₹50,000 in the private sector), but Dr. Kolandaisamy stressed that immunoglobulin should be provided in all healthcare facilities.
The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine had instructed District Health Officers and City Health Officers to ensure the availability of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) around the clock at all Primary Health Centers. At least 20 vials of ARV must be available at all times, with vaccines administered to all dog bite cases.
Reference:
1. World Health Organization. Rabies Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Sreelekshmi P/MSM)