Andhra Pradesh Sees Alarming Surge in Dog Bite Cases, 2.16 Lakh Victims in One Year
Obulamma from Kurnool town said a group of stray dogs attacked her eight-year-old son Sahadev and severely injured him.
Kurnool: Dog bite incidents have seen a sharp rise across Andhra Pradesh, with more than 2.16 lakh people bitten during the past year. According to official data, the number of dog biting cases has been increasing steadily year after year.
A majority of incidents are from urban areas, such as Vijayawada, Kurnool, Machilipatnam, Guntur and Ongole, indicating a growing menace of stray dogs in towns and cities.
Officials say dog bite cases rise further during the summer months. While primary health centres (PHCs) recorded an average of six cases per month until February, the number has now increased to 8–10 cases per month. Experts say extreme heat causes irritation among dogs, leading to aggressive behaviour.
“They tend to bite more, mainly out of anger, when humans enter their territory,” said a doctor from the Government Veterinary Hospital in Kurnool.
Recent incidents have sparked concerns among residents. “My daughter Akshaya had been going to school when six to seven stray dogs chased and bit her,” said Susheela, expressing anguish over the lack of control on stray dogs in Kadapa’s Chinnachowk area.
Obulamma from Kurnool town said a group of stray dogs attacked her eight-year-old son Sahadev and severely injured him. We are living in fear and request authorities to protect us,” she said.
District-wise data shows that Eluru recorded the highest number of around 16,000 cases this year. Kurnool, Vijayawada, Prakasam, Vizianagaram and Nellore districts reported over 12,000 cases each, while Alluri Sitarama Raju district recorded the lowest at about 3,800 cases.
Officials attribute the rise in stray dog population to the inadequate implementation of the sterilisation programme. Allegations have also surfaced regarding the misuse of funds meant for dog population control in several municipalities.
AP government is spending nearly ₹20 crore annually on anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) for dog bite victims. “We receive around 30 to 40 dog bite cases every month. We administer anti-rabies immunoglobulin injections free of cost,” said Dr Anil Kumar of Rajampet Area Hospital in Kadapa district.
“On average, we get around 10 cases per month at our PHC. The number may increase during summer. ARV is always available. Victims must take all four doses without fail,” said Dr. Manoj from a PHC in Kuderu mandal of Anantapur district.
Despite spending over ₹20 crore annually on vaccination and a similar amount on sterilisation programmes, the number of dog bite cases continues to rise, raising serious public health concerns.
* Dog Bite Cases Across Different Hospitals
Category No. of Hospitals Average cases per month (per hospital)
PHC 1,144 8–10
UPHC 560 10–12
CHC 172 30–40
Area Hospital 49 50–60
* Cases reported this year 2.16 lakh
