Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed concerns raised in Lok Sabha regarding dog bite cases in Kerala and the country. The government is utilizing integrated surveillance systems for data collection and is supporting states through the National Rabies Control Program. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is providing financial assistance for anti-rabies vaccines and has formulated a National Action Plan for rabies elimination. Local bodies are implementing Animal Birth Control programs under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Dog Bite Data and Awareness:**
* The government is aware of dog bite cases, collecting data through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program-Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP).
* **National Rabies Control Program (NRCP):**
* States are supported under the National Health Mission for capacity building of healthcare staff.
* Support includes procurement of human rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin.
* Awareness generation for rabies prevention and control.
* Review meetings, monitoring, and surveillance activities.
* Establishment of Model Anti Rabies Clinics and Wound Washing facilities.
* **Animal Husbandry and Dairying Initiatives:**
* Financial assistance to states for anti-rabies vaccines under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) component of the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP).
* Formulated National Action Plan for dog-mediated rabies elimination in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
* **Animal Birth Control (ABC) Program:**
* Local Bodies are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme and Anti Rabies Vaccination under Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
* Rules aim to manage stray dog populations through sterilization and immunization.
* **Surveillance and Reporting:**
* Enhanced surveillance through integrated data collection and reporting systems under the NRCP.
* District-level health departments directed to ensure timely reporting of animal bite cases through IHIP.
* Human Rabies is classified as a notifiable disease in 26 States/UTs.
* 14 diagnostic laboratories strengthened for rabies diagnosis in selected States/UTs.
* **Animal Welfare and ABC Centers:**
* Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) granted Certificates of Project Recognition under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 to Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) and Municipal Corporations for undertaking Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes at seven ABC Centres in Kerala.
Impact Analysis:
**States:**
* *Impact:* States receive financial and technical support for rabies control and animal birth control programs.
* *Action Required:* States need to submit action plans for anti-rabies vaccine procurement and implement the National Action Plan. States/UTs where Rabies is not a notifiable disease should take note.
**Local Bodies:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing Animal Birth Control programs and anti-rabies vaccinations.
* *Action Required:* Implement ABC programs in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
**Healthcare Staff:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced capacity building for rabies prevention and control.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs and adhere to established protocols for rabies management.
**Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) and Municipal Corporations (Kerala):**
* *Impact:* Authorized to conduct Animal Birth Control (ABC) programs.
* *Action Required:* Undertake Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes at the ABC Centres, adhering to Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
**District-level health Departments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for enhanced surveillance and reporting of animal bite cases.
* *Action Required:* Ensure timely reporting of animal bite cases through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
Key Entities Referenced
Kerala: State in India, where a high number of dog bite cases were reported.
National Rabies Control Program: A program implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, to control rabies through various measures.
Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023: Rules framed by the Central Government to address stray dog population management through sterilization and immunization programs.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs.
Integrated Disease Surveillance PlanIntegrated Health Information Platform: A data collection platform used by the government to monitor dog bite cases.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying: A ministry of the Government of India that assists states financially for purchase of anti rabies vaccine.
Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases ASCAD of Livestock Health Disease Control ProgrammeLHDCP: A component under which the Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying, Govt. of India is financially assisting States for purchase of anti rabies vaccine
Animal Welfare Board of India: An organization that grants Certificates of Project Recognition under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 to Animal Welfare Organizations and Municipal Corporations for undertaking Animal Birth Control ABC programmes
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3422
TO BE ANSWERED ON08.08.2025
CASES OFDOG BITESIN KERALA
†3422SHRIE TMOHAMMEDBASHEER:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:-
(a)whetherit hascome tothe notice of the governmentthat9,165people were bittenbydogs
in Kerala during the first three months of 2025, and that one person died due to a dog bite
andif so, the details thereof;
(b)whether it has come to the notice of the government that there is no clear data available
with the District Animal Husbandry Office regarding stray dog bite incidents affecting
humansinthe countryand if so, the detailsthereof;
(c)the steps takenbythe Government toensure that enoughanti-rabiesvaccines are supplied
tofieldoffices for timelyvaccinationof animals toprevent rabies;
(d)whether it has come to the notice of the Government that no proper studies are being
conducted to trace the source of rabies among stray dogs as revealed under the Right to
InformationAct; and
(e)the steps taken by the Government to strengthen Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres in
the variousdistricts of Kerala, district-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) & (b) The Government is aware of the dog bites cases in the country. This data is
collected through Integrated Disease Surveillance Plan–Integrated Health Information
Platform(IDSP-IHIP) SurveillanceSystem.
(c) to (e) Under the “National Health Mission” implemented by Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare, Govt. of India, States are supported under ‘National Rabies Control
Program’ through capacitybuildingof the healthcare staff, procurement of human rabies
vaccinesand rabiesimmunoglobulin, awareness generationfor rabiesprevention& control,
review meetings, monitoring and surveillance, establishment of Model Anti Rabies Clinics
& WoundWashing facilities.
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India is financially assisting States for purchase
of anti- rabies vaccine under the component ‘Assistance to States for Control of Animal
Diseases’ (ASCAD) of Livestock Health& Disease Control Programme(LHDCP) asperthe demandandactionplanreceivedfrom States.
Moreover, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry & Dairying formulated National Action Plan for the dog mediated
rabies elimination in collaboration with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of
India.
Further, dog population management is one of the key functions for controlling dog
bite cases. In this regard, Local Bodies are implementing the Animal Birth Control
Programme and Anti Rabies Vaccination for which the Central Government has framed
Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. These Rules aim to address stray dog population
managementthrough sterilization andimmunizationprograms.
The steps taken to strengthen surveillance of animal bites at the district level are as
follows:
Under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), efforts have been made to
enhancesurveillance through integrateddata collectionandreporting systems.
District-level health Department have been directed to ensure timely reporting of
animalbite cases through the IntegratedHealthInformationPlatform (IHIP).
Human Rabies is classified as a notifiable disease in 26 States/UTs as advised by
MoHFW.
Across country 14 diagnostic laboratories of Government health institutions have
been strengthened under the National Rabies Control Program for rabies diagnosis in
selectedStates/UTs.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has granted Certificates of Project
Recognitionunder the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 toAnimal WelfareOrganizations
(AWOs) and Municipal Corporations for undertaking Animal Birth Control (ABC)
programmes at seven ABC Centres at Kannur, Kollam, Thrissur, Ernakulam (two),
Alpappuzha,Wayanad.
*****