Two para-athletes tragically lost their lives in Odisha due to rabies, contracted after being bitten by an infected dog.
In a tragic incident in Odisha's Bolangir district, a national-level para-athlete, Jogendra Chhatria, and local resident Hrushikesh Rana lost their lives due to rabies-related complications after being bitten by a rabid dog on July 23. Four other individuals were also bitten in the same incident, with two recovering and two still undergoing treatment.
This incident underscores a growing concern across India, as the country recorded over 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths in 2024, according to Union Minister SP Singh Baghel.
Despite over two decades and significant expenditures on the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, India's stray dog population remains high, with estimates ranging between 2 crore to over 12 crore in various reports. The ABC programme, intended to control stray dog populations through sterilisation and vaccination to reduce rabies, has struggled to deliver these outcomes effectively anywhere in India.
The programme faces major systemic challenges, including corruption, poor monitoring, decentralised implementation, inadequate infrastructure, and underfunding. For example, RTI queries revealed instances of ghost sterilisation operations and financial mismanagement.
The government has not allocated consistent funds centrally for ABC sterilisation drives since 2021-22, shifting the financial burden entirely onto states. This lack of coordination and funding has hampered effective implementation. Sterilisation coverage in most cities remains below the 70% threshold needed to stabilise or reduce populations, meaning population growth continues despite efforts.
Even where sterilisation drives show some population declines, dog bite incidents have paradoxically increased. This suggests gaps in vaccination coverage, stray dog behaviour management, and public awareness, leading to human health risks without adequate rabies control.
Recognising these issues, the government updated ABC Rules in 2023 to align with Supreme Court and High Court directives and issued advisories for better street dog care and conflict resolution. The National Rabies Control Programme is also advancing Model Anti-Rabies Clinics and vaccine availability to reduce rabies mortality.
However, controlling India's stray dogs and rabies requires more than just the ABC programme. It necessitates substantially improving ABC programme funding, transparency, scale, vaccination coverage, and complementary community engagement alongside strengthened human rabies treatment access.
Minister SP Singh Baghel emphasised that municipalities are responsible for managing the stray dog population, and it is crucial that they address these systemic challenges to ensure the safety and health of the public.
[1] Report on ABC Programme Challenges: https://www.abcnews.in/news/abc-programme-challenges-india-37-lakh-dog-bite-cases-54-suspected-rabies-deaths-2024/ [2] Funding Lapses in ABC Programme: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/funding-lapses-in-abc-programme-hamper-effective-implementation/article36853219.ece [3] Government Updates ABC Rules: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1806982 [4] Increase in Dog Bite Incidents Despite Sterilisation: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/despite-sterilisation-drive-dog-bite-incidents-rise-in-pune/article31985109.ece [5] National Rabies Control Programme Updates: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8455971/
- The rise in dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths in India highlights the need for improved science and medical-conditions treatment, especially in tackling chronic diseases like rabies.
- To address respiratory conditions and eye-health issues related to dog bites, it's crucial to enhance the health-and-wellness infrastructure in tandem with the ABC programme's funding and transparency.
- As fitness-and-exercise can play a critical role in boosting immunity, it is essential to promote regular physical activity, particularly in communities affected by skin-conditions or at higher risk of dog bites.
- Addressing mental-health concerns among individuals traumatized by dog bites and living with the threat of chronic diseases, such as rabies, requires the development of psychological support resources.
- Nutrition plays an essential role in maintaining overall health and recovery from medical-conditions such as rabies. Consequently, collaborative efforts are needed to improve access to balanced diets and nutrition education for impacted populations.
