Over 14,000 dog bite cases in eight months in Pune; No cases of rabies reported 

Over 14,000 dog bite cases in eight months in Pune; No cases of rabies reported 

By: Pune Pulse

October 3, 2023

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has recorded 14,072 cases of dog bites in Pune from January 2023 to August 2023.

Speaking to Pune Pulse, Dr Sarika Funde, Veterinary Superintendent, PMC said, “To combat the dog bite cases, we are conducting vaccination drives across Pune. We have also received guidelines from the center regarding making Pune Rabies-Free by 2030. On World Rabies Day September 28), we conducted a special drive regarding dog bites & rabies. On every Saturday & Sunday, we are doing vaccination drives across the city, however, we are thinking of how to conduct the drive everyday as Pune city is expanding vastly with more & more villages getting included under the PMC.”

As per further information from Funde, following is the data of the total number of dog bites in Pune from 2021 to August 2023:

· 2021 – 12,024 cases

· 2022 – 16,569 cases

· 2023 (August) – 14,072 cases

Following is the number of stray dogs who were sterilized and vaccinated from 2018 to June 2023:

· 2018-19 – 11234 dogs sterilized, 11231 dogs vaccinated

· 2019-20 – 19630 dogs sterilized, 19630 dogs vaccinated

· 2020-21 – 14137 dogs sterilized, 14137 dogs vaccinated

· 2021-22 – 13148 dogs sterilized, 13148 dogs vaccinated

· 2022-23 – 31133 dogs sterilized, 31133 dogs vaccinated

· 2023-24 (June) – 13217 dogs sterilized, 13217 dogs vaccinated

Shreyas Vange