Epidemiological Profile and Geospatial Distribution of Dog Bite Cases Attending the Anti-rabies Vaccine Clinic in a Peripheral Medical College of North Bengal

Background: Dog bite injuries affecting millions of individuals annually is a significant global public health challenge due to the risk of exposure to the deadliest rabies virus.India is a major contributor to the global burden of rabies, accounting for 36% of worldwide rabies-related deaths.Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dog bites, epidemiological factors associated with it, and also to assess the geospatial distribution of dog bite cases.Materials and methods: In this observational retrospective cross-sectional study, case-specific details of all dog bite cases that received the zero dose of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) from January to June of 2025 were collected from the animal bite exposure register maintained at the ARV injection room.Spatial distribution of dog bite cases was done using by Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS).Results: Majority of the dog bite victims were male (71.6%) and belonged to the age-group of 20-45 years (44.6%).A total of 51.9% of the patients took their first dose (i.e., zero dose) of ARV on the day of being bitten by a dog.The maximum frequency of dog bite cases was observed in February 2025, followed by January and March.The maximum hot spots of the dog bite were found in the town or municipality area. Conclusion:The study findings highlighted the epidemiological profile and identified the spatial distribution of high-risk zones for dog bite cases, which may help the strategic implementation of the preventive measures for better community health outcomes.Clinical significance: Identifying the regional epidemiological information on dog bites and spot mapping of the places with the maximum number of dog bite cases may help in improving and implementing the strategic tools to prevent potential exposure to rabies.