An official report issued by the Preventive Medicine Sector in the Health Ministry revealed that more than 1.2 million cases of animal bites or scratches were recorded between January and September 2025 alone across Egypt, RT reported on Sunday.
The official report shows an alarming increase that reflects the spread of stray dogs and the growing risk of rabies across the country.
The report indicated that the governorates of Cairo, Giza, and Beheira topped the list with the highest recorded cases, with Cairo accounting for approximately 15 percent of the total cases and Giza for about 10 percent.
Beheira, Beni Suef, Assiut, and other governorates also had relatively high numbers.
The report attributed the significant increase to high population density, the expansion of unplanned urban areas, and the proliferation of stray animals in streets and densely populated neighborhoods.
It also noted that reports have spread to Upper and Lower Egypt governorates, not just the Cairo and the Delta region.
The Preventive Medicine Sector emphasized that these figures highlight the urgent need to intensify dog monitoring and vaccination campaigns, ensure the availability of rabies vaccines in all health facilities, expand community awareness campaigns about the dangers of interacting with stray animals, and strengthen the role of local authorities in controlling stray animals.
A persistent problem
The report emphasized that regular monitoring and continuous data analysis are among the most important tools for directing efforts and resources toward the most affected areas, with the aim of reducing infection rates and protecting public health.
Bites and scratches from animals, especially stray dogs, are a persistent public health problem in Egypt, as most are linked to the risk of rabies, a viral disease that is almost 100 percent fatal if not treated promptly after exposure.
The Egyptian Health Ministry in recent years has recorded a significant increase in the number of rabies cases, attributed to the growing stray dog population, weak animal surveillance and vaccination campaigns, and high population density in urban areas.
The annual figure, exceeding one million cases, is among the highest globally, placing Egypt among the countries with the highest burden of human rabies risk.
