Tamil NaduThursday, 18 June 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu dog bite surge in 2026: 2.63 lakh cases and 17 rabies deaths in 4 months
Tamil Nadu recorded 2.63 lakh dog bite cases and 17 rabies deaths in the first four months of 2026, with public health officials stressing vaccination and wound washing.
Key highlights
Direct fact
By April 2026, Tamil Nadu had recorded 2.63 lakh dog bite cases and 17 rabies deaths, according to the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
Key specifics
- January 2026 and February 2026 each recorded 62,000 dog bite cases in Tamil Nadu.
- March 2026 saw 71,000 cases, while April 2026 recorded 68,000 cases.
- Last year, Tamil Nadu reported 6.25 lakh dog bites and 34 rabies deaths.
- Districts mentioned with higher numbers included Chennai, Salem, Tiruchi and Dindigul.
- Category III bites, including transdermal bites, scratches and licks on broken skin, require rabies immunoglobulin.
Exam lens
Public health and disease-prevention question type: rabies is 100% fatal, anti-rabies vaccine, rabies immunoglobulin, Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, 2.63 lakh bites, 17 deaths — TNPSC may ask the first step after a dog bite.