Rabies from stray dog bites claimed 47 lives in Kerala in last four years, shows RTI reply

Rabies caused by stray dog bites has claimed 47 lives in Kerala in the last four years between January 2020 and January 2024, revealed a response by the office of the State health director to a RTI application

Rabies caused by stray dog bites has claimed 47 lives in Kerala in the last four years between January 2020 and January 2024, revealed a response by the office of the State health director to a Right to Information (RTI) application.

This was in addition to 22 more lives ‘probably’ lost to rabies, according to the response received by RTI activist Raju Vazhakkala.

The highest number of 10 ‘confirmed rabies deaths’ was reported from Kollam district, followed by 9 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Five lives each were lost in Thrissur and Kannur, four in Kozhikode, three each in Ernakulam and Palakkad, two each in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Wayanad, and one each in Malappuram and Kasaragod districts during the period.

Among the ‘probable rabies deaths,’ seven were reported from Alappuzha, three each in Thrissur and Palakkad, two each in Kottayam and Malappuram and one each in Idukki and Kozhikode districts.

“At a time when human-wildlife conflict has become a major discussion point, a serious public health issue caused by stray dogs has gone largely under the radar. Sixty-nine lives, including 22 probable deaths due to rabies, in four years is a significant number and the issue needs attention,” said Mr. Vazhakkala.

While 15 deaths each were confirmed due to rabies in 2022 and 2023, 11 lives were lost in 2021, five in 2020 and one in the first month of 2024 alone. Among the 22 probable deaths caused by rabies, 12 occurred in 2022 and 10 in 2023.