Dog-bite cases see twofold rise over last 2 yrs’ tally

Bhopal: Brace yourself and take necessary precautions. The year 2024 could potentially mirror predicament of the previous two years. The number of dog bite cases, which have been officially reported to the health department after victims sought medical treatment, has seen a staggering twofold increase. The unofficial figures are speculated to be significantly higher.
Anticipating prompt actions to curb the escalating dog bite menace may be an overly optimistic expectation. The situation heavily relies on the effectiveness of Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which is projected to require more than a decade to address the current canine population in the city. Presently, a maximum of 1,750 dogs undergo sterilization each month in Bhopal. Despite a 1.5-fold increase in capacity at the civic body’s ABC centres, the estimated waiting period to sterilize the existing dog population surpasses eight years.

Consider this alarming statistic: in the first four months of 2024 itself, the number of dog bite cases surpassed the total cases of 2022 while the count over an eight-month period last year was reached within a mere five months in 2024.
The trend is deeply concerning, as are the prospects of morning walks and evening strolls on the city’s streets. From Jan to May 2022, average 10 people fell victim to dog bites daily. This figure escalated to a staggering 58. In 2024, the average daily dog bite cases have skyrocketed to 85, according to data from the health department. The months associated with a surge in dog bite incidents are upon us. “Dogs exhibit heightened aggression during their breeding and mating seasons,” said Ranveer Singh, the additional commissioner of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). BMC sterlisation per month can be a maximum of 1,750 per month. 6,000 anti-rabies vaccines were administered to pets in 2023, he added. However, Singh said, “Catching stray dogs is a real challenge.” BMC has five dedicated teams to cover 85 wards in the state capital. One team is for catching injured animals.
Beyond the immediate concerns of injury and medical attention, animal bites also result in significant economic losses. A private company employee in his 40s shared his ordeal , having been bitten by a dog and subsequently undergoing the necessary protocol for receiving the anti-rabies vaccine. “I was bitten by a dog in May and underwent a 28-day course of four vaccines. From the 25th day onwards, I noticed swelling on my limb and was diagnosed with a bacterial infection. I was not administered proper antibiotics at CHC Kolar.” The individual required hospitalization for four days to treat the bacterial infection. The total loss of workdays amounted to nearly three weeks, he added.