Over 70,000 dog-bite cases reported in Punjab this Year

LAHORE: A whopping 70,586 dog-bite cases have been reported in Punjab during the current year, ARY News reported citing Punjab health department.

The province, has witnessed a sharp increase in cases, with officials warning of the public health risks.

According to the Punjab Health Department, as many as 30,514 cases were reported in Lahore alone this year.

Health department sources added that four people have also died of rabies—an infection that develops after a dog bite—this year.

Dog-bite incidents have surged across the province, averaging 400 cases daily this year.

As many as 243,299 cases were reported in 2025.

In the first three months of 2026 alone, as many as 38,586 incidents of dog bite were recorded in the province.

This staggering number of dog-bite incidents poses a serious threat to the lives of citizens, highlighting the urgent need for district administrations to launch dog-culling campaigns in their respective areas.

The Punjab government has introduced several measures to control the situation, including Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (CNVR) programmes to limit the breeding of stray dogs.

Municipal bodies have also conducted anti-stray dog campaigns in high-risk areas, while awareness campaigns have been launched to educate citizens about rabies prevention and the importance of timely treatment, a heath department official said.

Authorities have also been directed to improve waste management systems, as open garbage attracts stray dogs and contributes to their population growth.

However, residents argue that these measures have not been implemented effectively.

Healthcare facilities in Punjab offer treatment for dog bite victims, including free anti-rabies vaccines, post-exposure prophylaxis and emergency wound care.