With 2 deaths, 7,864 people infected this year
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Sept 29: Over 40,000 people have been reported infected with animal bites at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu in the last four years. And thirteen people have died of the rabies infection in this period.
“Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 40,505 infections due to animal bites and 13 deaths due to rabies have been reported at GMC Jammu,” said Dr Rajeev K Gupta, Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine at Government Medical College Jammu.
According to him, 10,952 infections (due to animal bites) and 5 deaths (due to rabies) were reported in 2019, and 6,314 infections were reported in the following year without any deaths at GMC Jammu. In the next year (2021), 6,201 infections and 3 deaths were reported, while in 2022, 9,174 infections and 3 deaths occurred.
With the highest number of 952 infections reported in September this year, a total of 7,864 people have been reported infected due to animal bites in 2023.
Regarding the month-wise breakdown of the animal infections reported this year, 985 cases were reported in January, 941 in February, 925 in March, 815 in April, 882 in May, 843 in June, 823 in July, 698 in August, and 952 as of September. One death each was reported in July and September due to rabies.
Reports indicated that rabies claims approximately 21,000 lives in the country annually and 59,000 deaths in 150 countries globally, with stray dogs being the main vectors of the infection. India has an estimated population of 30-60 million stray dogs.
According to Dr Raheel, who consults patients at the Anti-Rabies section of Government Medical College Jammu, most infections occur due to stray dog and cat bites, which, by and large, remain unvaccinated in Jammu District. Monkey, horse, sheep, goat, and rat bites also contribute to the infection, he said.
Dr Raheel also pointed out that a high percentage of rabies deaths occur in children under 15 years of age, as they often fail to report animal bites to their parents or healthcare experts on time.
He emphasized that rabies deaths in humans are 100% preventable through prompt and appropriate medical care after the animal bite provided the patient reaches the health care institution on time and get vaccinated.
September 28 is observed as World Rabies Day globally.
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