No end in sight: Telangana struggles with dog bite surge and anti-rabies vaccine shortage

Telangana continues to grapple with a rising dog bite crisis, with Hyderabad and surrounding districts reporting 3,500-3,800 new cases every month. While anti-rabies vaccines are available, a severe shortage of Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) has left victims vulnerable, especially those with severe Category-III bites.

Hyderabad: People in Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana continue to struggle with an unrelenting cycle of dog bites and the desperate search for a healthcare facility adequately stocked with anti-rabies vaccines.

Every month, Hyderabad and its surrounding districts witness an average of 3,500 to 3,800 new dog bite cases. This is in addition to thousands of existing patients receiving follow-up treatment.

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While the anti-rabies vaccine is accessible, recent studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and The Lancet (2025) have highlighted a severe shortage of Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG), the specialised injection required for ‘Category-III’ bites for severe, deep-tissue bites, in primary and secondary health care facilities.

Overall, across the State, the dog bite numbers are staggering – from 92,924 cases in 2022 to a projected over 1,20,000 by the end of this year. However, only 1.8 percent of Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in Telangana currently stock RIG.

This leaves victims in a desperate race against time; while ARV takes up to 14 days to build immunity, RIG provides the immediate “antibody shield” necessary to stop the virus before it reaches the nervous system.

Between January and November (including fresh and old cases), Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) and other health care facilities in Telangana administered a staggering 94,000 anti rabies vaccines, reflecting the crisis of dog bites prevalent in the State.

“Handling the dog bite cases is a huge responsibility for the Public Health department, which already faces a lot of burden from seasonal diseases and NCDs. There appears to be no end in sight for this menace,” a senior health official summed-it up.