Punjab Dog Bites Surge: 3.34 Lakh Cases in 2025!

The state of Punjab has experienced a dramatic surge in dog bite cases, with numbers tripling in the past five years. In 2025 alone, the state recorded 3.34 lakh cases, an alarming escalation from 1.10 lakh cases in 2020. This averages to nearly 915 dog bite incidents reported daily throughout 2025.

Amritsar reported the highest number of cases with 58,221 in 2025, followed by Ludhiana with 41,086 and Patiala with 26,194. Health officials noted that 2.63 lakh cases were categorized as Grade-2 bites requiring vaccination, while 58,270 were Grade-3, necessitating both serum and vaccine.

A significant concern is that only 70% of patients complete the full four-dose anti-rabies vaccination course, despite treatment being free. This is often attributed to a lack of adherence to the schedule by victims. Approximately 80% of these bites involve stray dogs, underscoring the severity of the stray animal population issue in urban areas.

Activists criticize the municipal council and district administration for failing to address the stray dog menace effectively, with animal birth control programs reportedly unsuccessful. Efforts are being made to ensure anti-rabies vaccines are available at all government health facilities, including Aam Aadmi Clinics, emphasizing that rabies is preventable with timely treatment.