&w=3840&q=100)
Over 3.7 million dog bite cases, 54 human rabies deaths in 2024: Govt
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel said the data on the total number of reported dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths, is collected from states/UTs under the National Rabies Control Program by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
As per the information provided by the NCDC, the total dog bite cases in 2024 stood at 3,717,336 while the total 'suspected human rabies deaths' were 54.
Stating that municipalities are responsible to control the stray dog population, Baghel said they are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme to regulate the population of stray dogs.
In addition, the Centre has notified the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which focuses on the neutering and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs, the minister said.
Elaborating on the steps, Baghel said his ministry issued an advisory in November 2024 to states, asking them to implement the ABC Programme and related activities through local bodies, as part of its objective to ensure the safety and security of children, especially toddlers, from stray dog attacks.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued several advisories and guidelines as well in this regard.
On complaints related to feeding of community animals, AWBI writes to the Resident Welfare Association (RWAs), Apartment Owners' Association (AOAs), or local bodies concerned for appropriate action.
During 2024-25 and up to June 2025, the board has issued 166 such letters, the minister added.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Health Department recalls services of 28 employees deputed as Food Safety Officers
The State Health Department has recalled the services of 28 employees, who were deployed on deputation in the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department to serve as Food Safety Officers (FSOs). This follows a review of the service particulars of these officers deputed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. According to a government order (GO) issued on July 23, these officers did not possess the educational qualifications prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, at the time of their functional appointment or deputation to the Food Safety and Drug Administration department. Further, some among them have obtained degrees from open or distance education institutions but that is done without prior departmental approval, which renders their qualifications ineligible under the rules in force. The officers had approached the Karnataka High Court seeking regularisation of their services as FSOs and also a revision of pay scale. However, the Court rejected their petition. It said 'they were not regularly recruited, appointed, or absorbed into the said posts in accordance with the Cadre and Recruitment Rules, 2015. Besides, they also did not possess the required qualifications at the time of their functional appointment or deputation,' the GO stated. 'In view of their ineligibility for regularisation and in the interest of legal and administrative propriety, the government has ordered that they should be repatriated with immediate effect to their parent department (Health and Family Welfare Department). The repatriated officers should report to the State Health Commissioner for further posting through counselling. The Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, should take necessary action to relieve the 28 officers and ensure that all statutory enforcement functions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, are reassigned to the concerned Taluk Health Officers (THOs) with immediate effect, until further orders. Further, the THOs who are assigned the responsibility of Food Safety Officers should undergo the required training,' the GO stated. Deputation period Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, told The Hindu that as per Rule 16 of the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977, the permissible maximum deputation period of eight years, including extensions, has already been completed in respect of these officers. 'In light of the above and considering the potential legal complications arising from the continued discharge of statutory enforcement functions by ineligible personnel, it is concluded that their deputation as food safety officers cannot be continued any further. Therefore, action has been initiated to repatriate such officers to their parent cadre in the Health and Family Welfare Department,' he said.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Lack of birth control centres, shortage of vets, leads to spike in dog bites, rabies deaths across south India
Dog bite incidents remain a significant public health issue across southern India, with rabies-related deaths continuing to rise, despite various measures to control the problem. According to the government's response to the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2025, over 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies deaths were recorded in 2024. The National Centre for Disease Control confirmed 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths that year. The government has placed the responsibility for managing the stray dog population on municipalities. In a written reply, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Singh Baghel stated that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme is being implemented across the country to regulate stray dog numbers. However, despite ongoing sterilisation drives and vaccination campaigns, data from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala indicate that the problem is far from resolved. The stray dog population continues to grow, and civic responses have been limited. The toll on human health In Tamil Nadu, for instance, the Directorate of Public Health reported a startling 1.24 lakh dog bite cases and four rabies deaths in just the first three months of 2025. The fatalities from rabies went up from 18 deaths in 2023 to 43 in 2024. By mid-2025, 18 rabies deaths had already been recorded, suggesting another year of high mortality. Despite these grim statistics, the State's sterilisation efforts are struggling to keep pace with the growing population of stray dogs. An official survey in Chennai estimated 1.8 lakh stray dogs in the city in 2024, though the actual number could be much higher. Experts recommend sterilising at least 90% of the dogs in a short period to break the reproductive cycle, but data from the Greater Chennai Corporation shows the number of sterilisations in 2023 was 14,885 and a marginal reduction in 2024, at 14,678. Meanwhile, in Karnataka, 2024 saw 3.6 lakh dog bite cases and 42 rabies deaths. This situation has persisted into 2025, with Bangalore Urban reporting 8,878 dog bites between January and June. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) region, which includes the city's core, recorded 13,831 cases in just six months. Although no rabies deaths were reported in these areas during this period, Bangalore Urban was responsible for 9 of the 19 Statewide rabies fatalities. The situation in the city, particularly in poorer areas, reflects the ongoing challenges in controlling the stray dog population, despite efforts in more affluent neighbourhoods where government agencies are active. In Telangana, Hyderabad has also seen a dramatic increase in dog bite cases, which more than doubled from 10,078 incidents in 2022 to 21,131 in 2024. The situation is dire, with Greater Hyderabad now reporting over 100 dog bites every day. Between 2021 and 2024, the State recorded over 3.3 lakh dog bite cases, with Hyderabad contributing significantly to this total. Local residents have expressed fear about letting their children play outside due to aggressive stray dogs. 'Only because I live in a society that has banned stray dogs can my child play safely within the complex,' said N. Sravani, mother of a five-year-old. In Kerala, the situation is similarly concerning. Dog bite cases have surged from 1.19 lakh in 2014 to around 3.16 lakh in 2024, more than doubling over the past decade. The increase in rabies-related deaths has been just as worrying: 25 deaths in 2023, 26 in 2024, and already 16 deaths in the first five months of 2025. Significantly, some of those who died had received rabies vaccinations, suggesting that in some cases, the virus reached the nervous system too quickly, rendering the vaccine ineffective. In response, the Kerala government has plans to deploy mobile ABC units across all 152 block panchayats, aiming to better control the stray dog population. For many, the fear of stray dogs is a daily reality, which makes even simple activities like taking children for walks or playing outside a daunting task. Challenges in controlling stray dog populations The ability to manage and control the stray dog population is hindered by several significant challenges. A crucial issue is the lack of adequate infrastructure, especially in terms of animal birth control centres, and the shortage of trained veterinary professionals. Shruti Vinod Raj, honorary member of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board, said that Chennai alone needs 17 ABC centres to handle the growing number of stray dogs. At present, the city has only five, with plans for ten more. The existing centres are not enough to meet the demand, and only a fraction of the necessary sterilisation procedures are being carried out. Moreover, there is a significant shortage of qualified veterinarians to perform these essential procedures, says Ms. Raj. The lack of skilled professionals at these centres further exacerbates the problem. In response to this, the Animal Welfare Board and the Animal Husbandry Department are working to provide targeted training for veterinarians specifically to work at these centres, but this initiative is still in its early stages. Another major challenge comes in the form of bureaucratic red tape, which delays the establishment of new ABC centres. An animal welfare organisation in Hyderabad, which works with the local body for ABC, noted that proposals for setting up new centres may take years to be approved, leaving the stray dog population to proliferate unchecked in the meantime. In many cases, by the time a new centre is operational, the population of strays has grown significantly. Local residents, too, are noticing these gaps in the system. K. Guru, a resident of Bangalore, commented that while some affluent areas are seeing a reduction in stray dog numbers due to active government intervention, the situation in other parts of the city remains grim. 'In affluent neighbourhoods, there seems to be some progress in controlling the stray dog population. However, in other parts of the city, the problem is only worsening,' he said. Experts have called for a more coordinated, widespread response, involving better infrastructure, a larger number of trained veterinarians, and faster decision-making to address the issue comprehensively. Until these challenges are addressed, the rise in dog bite cases and rabies deaths is likely to persist.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Over 200 cancer day care centres to be established across India: Government
New Delhi: More than 200 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) have been approved for establishment across the country for the financial year 2025-26, including 14 centres in Andhra Pradesh, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav told the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Union Health Ministry conducted a national gap analysis using Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) cancer registry data and planned for the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in consultation with states, as per announcement in the Union Budget 2025-26 . High-burden districts were prioritised, and proposals were submitted by the states and UTs, and finalised by the National Programme Coordination Committee (NPCC) to optimise resources and avoid duplication, the minister said in a written reply. "For financial Year 2025-26, more than 200 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) have been approved for establishment across the country, which includes 14 such centres in Andhra Pradesh," he said. The DCCCs will be established in district hospitals as per the availability of space and logistics. However, based on the feasibility and as per state proposals, DCCCs can also be established in other government health facilities. Unit cost for establishment of DCCCs may be up to Rs 1.49 crores as per the requirement and gaps at that facility. Fund requirement would be fulfilled by the State Resource Envelope (RE) of National Health Mission (NHM), and the proportion of states and UTs will be as per norms of NHM, the minister said. As per the announcement of the Union Budget 2025-26, the government plans to set up Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in district hospitals in the next three years, out of which 200 centres are proposed to be set up in the financial year 2025-26.
