PESHAWAR: A sharp rise in dog bite cases has been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising serious public health concerns across the province. Official data shows a significant increase during 2025 compared to the previous year.
According to a report issued by the Health Department, a total of 87,364 dog bite cases were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2025. This figure is much higher than the 60,223 cases reported in 2024. The increase of more than 27,000 cases has alarmed health authorities and residents alike.
Urban centers have been hit particularly hard. District Mardan reported the highest number of dog bite incidents, with 13,328 cases recorded in a single year. Officials say the situation requires urgent attention due to the scale of the problem.
Peshawar has also seen a dramatic rise. Dog bite cases in the provincial capital jumped from 655 in 2024 to 4,558 in 2025. This marks an increase of nearly 600 percent within one year. Reports indicate that more than 3,900 incidents occurred in Peshawar alone during this period.
Several other districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported worrying figures. Swat recorded 7,335 cases, while Lakki Marwat reported 7,274 incidents. Abbottabad also faced growing numbers, with 2,683 cases documented during the year.
Additional districts showed similar trends. Haripur reported 3,795 cases, while Buner recorded 3,880 incidents. Shangla reported 2,534 dog bite cases, and Lower Dir saw 5,576 cases in 2025. Health officials say the widespread nature of the problem highlights gaps in animal control efforts.
Medical experts have voiced concern over the rapid rise in incidents. They stress the need for stronger measures to manage the stray dog population. Experts also emphasize timely vaccination and availability of anti-rabies treatment.
Public awareness has been identified as a key issue. Health professionals are calling for campaigns to educate people on avoiding dog bites and seeking immediate medical care if bitten.
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Authorities are now under pressure to act. Officials have been urged to introduce coordinated strategies to control stray dogs and protect public health across the province.
