35 die of rabies as dog-bite cases cross 200,000

Sindh's struggle with rabies is turning deadlier, with at least 35 people losing their lives to the disease in the first nine months of the year as dog-bite cases across the province surged past the 200,000 mark. The scale of the crisis is particularly stark in Karachi, where more than 40,000 dog-bite cases were reported at four major public and welfare hospitals between January and September, highlighting the growing challenge posed by stray dogs and gaps in preventive measures. Indus Hospital Karachi alone recorded around 14,000 dog-bite cases during the period, while Jinnah Hospital and Civil Hospital Karachi each reported approximately 10,000 cases. More than 7,000 additional cases were reported at other hospitals across the city. Officials said 26 people died of rabies at Indus Hospital Karachi during the nine-month period. One death was reported at Indus Hospital Badin, while eight rabies-related deaths were recorded at Jinnah Hospital Karachi. Experts cautioned that the actual number of dog-bite cases in Sindh could be significantly higher than the available figures because reporting and record-keeping systems are not uniform across hospitals and institutions. They called for an effective dog-sterilisation programme to control the stray-dog population and urged authorities to improve vaccination programmes. Experts said ensuring the availability of anti-rabies vaccines at hospitals alone was not sufficient, stressing the need for comprehensive measures to prevent dog bites and ensure timely treatment. Meanwhile Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah has urged citizens not to dismiss dog bites or scratches as minor injuries, stressing that immediate treatment is essential to prevent rabies, which becomes fatal once symptoms appear. In a message issued on World Rabies Day, CS Shah advised people to wash a dog-bite wound immediately with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and then visit the nearest health facility for medical treatment and vaccination. He urged citizens to avoid self-treatment and seek medical assistance without delay following a dog bite or scratch. Sindh's treatment capacity for dog-bite victims has increased by around 30% compared with the first eight months of last year. Health facilities across the province have treated around 45,000 victims, administering approximately 138,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccine. Around 5,000 doses of rabies immunoglobulin were also administered to patients where required. CS Shah said 278 anti-rabies units had been upgraded across Sindh, with vaccines, wound-washing facilities and trained medical staff made available to ensure timely treatment. He said public awareness, prompt treatment following dog bites and vaccination of dogs were essential to preventing rabies.