The alarming increase in dog bite cases in Thane district has come to light. During the one-year period from January 2025 to January 2026, 67,112 citizens have had to undergo rabies vaccination in government hospitals in the district.
The statistics show that the incidence of dog bites is higher in urban and densely populated areas of the district.
Ulhasnagar-3 has the highest number of 12594 patients, while Bhiwandi Upazila Hospital has 11793, Ulhasnagar-4 has 9788 and Ambernath Upazila Hospital has 8450 patients.
As many as 5,157 patients were treated for rabies at Thane Civil Hospital. According to health experts, rabies is a fatal disease once it develops.
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If bitten by a dog or any suspicious animal, it is necessary to immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and get vaccinated without delay, advised experts.
The increasing incidence of dog bites has posed a major challenge to the public health system in Thane district.
For prevention, sterilization of stray dogs, vaccination and awareness of citizens are all three aspects of equal importance.
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to introduce an artificial intelligence-based system to better manage the health, movement and behaviour of stray dogs in Mumbai. The project will begin with the tracking of 10,000 stray dogs across the city. The initiative will be carried out through a public-private partnership involving private companies, non-governmental organisations and a startup.
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