Karnataka has witnessed a sharp 36% rise in dog bite incidents during the first half of 2025, with 2.31 lakh reported cases and 19 confirmed rabies deaths between January and June, according to data from the State Health Department. This surge comes amid growing concerns over stray dog management and public safety.
The figures mark a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024, which saw 1.69 lakh cases and 18 deaths. For the entire year of 2024, the state had recorded 3.6 lakh dog bite cases and 42 rabies-related fatalities.
Bengaluru Urban was among the top contributors, reporting 8,878 dog bites, while BBMP limits accounted for 13,831 cases. Vijayapura led the tally with 15,527 cases, followed by Hassan (13,388), Dakshina Kannada (12,524), and Bagalkot (12,392). Notably, no rabies deaths were recorded within BBMP or Bangalore Rural limits, though Bengaluru Urban alone reported nine of the state’s 19 fatalities.
Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, attributed the rise partly to improved case documentation. He emphasized the importance of immediate treatment, even for minor scratches, and said awareness campaigns and adequate medical supplies are being ensured across government hospitals.
Following the declaration of human rabies as a notifiable disease in 2022 under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, both public and private medical institutions are now mandated to report all suspected rabies cases.vDistrict authorities have been directed to audit each rabies death to identify medical lapses, delayed treatment, and failures in addressing the presence of infected animals.
