Punjab's Rabies Crisis: 8 Deaths and Rising Dog Bites

Punjab is grappling with a severe surge in rabies cases, marked by a record eight deaths this year. This deadly, preventable zoonotic disease, primarily transmitted through dog bites, has seen cases more than double in five years, escalating from 1.1 lakh in 2020 to 2.77 lakh by October 2025. The state has recorded 1.9 lakh grade-2 and 43,740 grade-3 bites, with a concerning 67.35% completion rate for post-exposure prophylaxis.

Despite the availability of anti-rabies serum (ARS), treatment lapses have contributed to fatalities. Officials confirmed that two of the eight victims did not receive ARS, and approximately 60 patients with grade-3 bites missed this crucial treatment. Health officials emphasize the need for better training to differentiate bite grades accurately and ensure proper administration of ARS and vaccines.

Contributing factors to this escalating crisis include a lack of public awareness, particularly among low-income families, and instances where patients delay seeking treatment until symptoms manifest. This situation underscores an urgent need for intensified public health interventions and improved healthcare delivery to combat the preventable deaths caused by rabies.