Patna, Bihar: The latest economic survey released by the Bihar government highlights a staggering surge of over 20 times in reported cases of dog bites compared to the previous year. The Bihar Economic Survey for 2023-24 identifies dog bites as the “most prevalent disease” in the state.
According to the report, a significant increase is noted, with a total of 2,07,181 people falling victim to dog bites in the year 2022-23, in contrast to 9,809 cases reported in 2021-22. The data indicates an average of 600 daily instances of people being bitten by dogs in Bihar.
Malaria, the second most prevalent disease in the state, recorded 45,532 cases in 2022-23, as outlined in the economic survey. However, the report does not specify the number of rabies cases associated with dog bites.
The capital city, Patna, reported the highest number of incidents, with 22,599 cases of dog bites in 2022-23, followed by Nalanda (17,074), Gopalganj (15,253), Vaishali (13,110), West Champaran (11,291), and others.
Notably, Patna witnessed the highest surge, prompting Animesh Kumar Parashar, Patna Municipal Commissioner, to state that efforts would be intensified to address the issue. Similar sentiments were echoed by Shekhar Anand, Municipal Commissioner of Nalanda, the district with the second-highest reported cases.
Dr. Manoj Kumar, a Patna-based medical practitioner, expressed concern over the omission of rabies cases in the survey, emphasizing the need to address dog bites as a serious health issue.
Alokparna Sengupta, Managing Director for Humane Society International/India, urged authorities to manage human-animal conflict effectively and implement the Animal Birth Control Programme to curb dog bite incidents. She highlighted the humane approach of the Prevention of Cruelty (Animal Birth Control) Rules 2023, providing a balanced solution for dog welfare and public safety.
