Lok Sabha Question No. 3422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Cases of Dog Bites in Kerala
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025

## CASES OF DOG BITES IN KERALA

## †3422 SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

(a)whether it has come to the notice of the government that 9,165 people were bitten by dogs in Kerala during the first three months of 2025, and that one person died due to a dog bite and if so, the details thereof;

(b)whether it has come to the notice of the government that there is no clear data available with the District Animal Husbandry Office regarding stray dog bite incidents affecting humans in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c)the steps taken by the Government to ensure that enough anti-rabies vaccines are supplied to field offices for timely vaccination of animals to prevent rabies;

(d)whether it has come to the notice of the Government that no proper studies are being conducted to trace the source of rabies among stray dogs as revealed under the Right to Information Act; and

(e)the steps taken by the Government to strengthen Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres in the various districts of Kerala, district-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) & (b) The Government is aware of the dog bites cases in the country. This data is collected through Integrated Disease Surveillance Plan-Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP) Surveillance System.

(c) to (e) Under the 'National Health Mission' implemented by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, States are supported under 'National Rabies Control Program' through capacity building of the healthcare staff, procurement of human rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin, awareness generation for rabies prevention & control, review meetings, monitoring and surveillance, establishment of Model Anti Rabies Clinics &Wound Washing facilities.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India is financially assisting States for purchase of anti- rabies vaccine under the component 'Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases' (ASCAD) of Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) as per the demand and action plan received from States.

Moreover, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying formulated National Action Plan for the dog mediated rabies elimination in collaboration with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India.

Further, dog population management is one of the key functions for controlling dog bite cases. In this regard, Local Bodies are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme and Anti Rabies Vaccination for which the Central Government has framed Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. These Rules aim to address stray dog population management through sterilization and immunization programs.

The steps taken to strengthen surveillance of animal bites at the district level are as follows:

-  Under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), efforts have been made to enhance surveillance through integrated data collection and reporting systems.
-  District-level health Department have been directed to ensure timely reporting of animal bite cases through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
-  Human Rabies is classified as a notifiable disease in 26 States/UTs as advised by MoHFW.
-  Across country 14 diagnostic laboratories of Government health institutions have been strengthened under the National Rabies Control Program for rabies diagnosis in selected States/UTs.

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has granted Certificates of Project Recognition under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 to Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) and Municipal Corporations for undertaking Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes at seven ABC Centres at Kannur, Kollam, Thrissur, Ernakulam (two), Alpappuzha, Wayanad.

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