The Governorship of Istanbul stated that the allegations that “there has been an explosion in rabies cases in Istanbul” in social media and some media outlets in recent days do not reflect the truth. The Governorate emphasized that the high vaccination numbers are not an epidemic, but purely precautionary practices.
Real Facts and Figures
Here are the critical points highlighted in the press release numbered 2026-12 issued by the Governorate:
Last Case History: The last recorded case of rabies in Istanbul was in 2007. Since then, no living creature has been diagnosed with rabies in the city.
2025 Vaccine Data: Last year (2025), a total of 123,538 rabies vaccinations were administered throughout Istanbul.
The Reason for Vaccinations: It was stated that all vaccinations are “precautionary”. These vaccinations are given in the following cases:
After attacks by stray stray animals.
In case of suspicious contact with owned animals, such as scratching, saliva contamination, etc.
“The News Does Not Reflect the Reality”
In the statement, it was stated that misinterpreting the rabies vaccination statistics and presenting them as if there is an “epidemic” misleads the public. The governor's office reminded that the health protocols in the city are meticulously implemented and that the public should not rely on baseless posts, and concluded the statement with the note “It is respectfully announced to the public”.
Editor : Dilek Bozkurt