Despite ongoing efforts to control dog bites and rabies, concerns persist in Tamil Nadu, with major government hospitals treating thousands of individuals annually. In 2023, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai collectively treated 5,500 to 6,000 people for dog bites.
A statewide study revealed a total of 8.83 lakh dog bites in Tamil Nadu in 2022, with 121 deaths due to rabies from 2018 to 2022. While the state shows a declining trend in rabies-related deaths, achieving the goal of zero deaths remains challenging. The study highlights challenges such as inadequacies in dog bite management, miscategorization of bites, and under-reporting of rabies cases.
The authors emphasize the importance of counting the canine population for targeted intervention measures and advocate for a holistic strategy to address various aspects of rabies prevention and control. Despite vaccination efforts, consistent efforts are needed to reduce the risk of dog bites and rabies transmission in the state.