Sindh’s rabies crisis is growing more serious, with at least 35 people dying from the disease in the first nine months of the year as dog-bite cases across the province crossed 200,000.
The situation is especially alarming in Karachi, where more than 40,000 dog-bite cases were reported at four major public and welfare hospitals between January and September.
Indus Hospital Karachi recorded around 14,000 dog-bite cases during the period, while Jinnah Hospital and Civil Hospital Karachi each reported about 10,000 cases. More than 7,000 additional cases were reported at other hospitals in the city.
Officials said 26 people died of rabies at Indus Hospital Karachi during the nine months. One death was reported at Indus Hospital Badin, while Jinnah Hospital Karachi recorded eight rabies-related deaths.
Experts warned that the actual number of cases in Sindh may be much higher because reporting and record-keeping 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 strengthen vaccination efforts.
Experts said the availability of anti-rabies vaccines at hospitals alone is not enough and stressed the need for wider preventive measures, including timely treatment and better control of stray dogs.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah urged citizens not to ignore dog bites or scratches, saying immediate treatment is essential because rabies becomes fatal once symptoms appear.
In a message on World Rabies Day, he 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 treatment and vaccination.
He also urged citizens to avoid self-treatment and seek medical help without delay after any dog bite or scratch.
Sindh’s treatment capacity for dog-bite victims has increased by around 30 percent compared with the first eight months of last year.
Health facilities across the province treated around 45,000 victims and administered about 138,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccine. Around 5,000 doses of rabies immunoglobulin were also given where needed.
Chief Secretary 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 after dog bites and vaccination of dogs are essential to prevent rabies.
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