Home / Health / Stray Dogs Injure Polio Teams in Karachi
Stray Dogs Injure Polio Teams in Karachi
8 Feb
Summary
- Two female polio workers were attacked by stray dogs on Saturday.
- A police escort for a polio team was also bitten by a dog.
- Karachi sees over 150 dog-bite cases daily at one hospital.
A public health crisis involving stray dogs has resurfaced in Karachi after two female polio workers and a police escort were injured in separate animal attacks on Saturday, February 8th, 2026. One worker was attacked in Zaman town, Korangi, while the other encountered a dog in Malir Cantonment.
A policeman escorting a polio team in Quaidabad was also bitten and received treatment at Indus Hospital. A spokesperson for the Sindh Emergency Operations Center (EOC) confirmed the incidents involving the polio workers, assuring that safety protocols were followed. These teams operate with local government representatives to address such issues promptly.
Indus Hospital's Rabies Prevention and Training Centre manager reported that the policeman's leg injury was classified as Category II exposure, with follow-up treatment scheduled. The hospital sees an average of 150-200 dog-bite cases daily. This comes as Karachi reported its third rabies case this year, with 22 rabies deaths occurring last year.
Last year, over 41,000 dog-bite cases were recorded across three major Karachi hospitals, emphasizing the severity of the issue. Health officials stressed the importance of dog population control, training healthcare providers in post-exposure prophylaxis, and increasing public awareness.
