Home / Health / Sindh Rabies Crisis: 22 Dead, 42,000 Dog Bites
Sindh Rabies Crisis: 22 Dead, 42,000 Dog Bites
20 Dec
Summary
- Sindh reports 22 rabies deaths this year amidst over 42,000 dog-bite incidents.
- Nationwide, 2,000-5,000 people die annually from preventable rabies.
- Healthcare infrastructure struggles with vaccine scarcity, impacting rural areas.
Rabies remains a critical yet often overlooked health threat in Pakistan, with Sindh reporting 22 fatalities this year alone. Alarming figures from three tertiary care hospitals in Karachi reveal over 42,000 dog-bite cases, highlighting a severe public health crisis. Annually, an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 individuals nationwide die from this agonizing, yet entirely preventable, disease. Rural communities bear the brunt, struggling with timely access to life-saving therapies and facing shortages of post-exposure prophylaxis.
The escalating stray dog population exacerbates the crisis. Despite producing nearly 80,000 anti-rabies vaccine vials, bureaucratic hurdles hinder distribution. Efforts like the Rabies Control Programme Sindh's target to vaccinate and sterilize 125,000 dogs by mid-2025 face significant operational challenges. Health experts emphasize that immunizing 70% of street dogs is crucial to preventing a widespread epidemic.
Achieving a safe environment requires organized measures to bolster health units with emergency equipment and trained personnel. Public awareness campaigns must reach remote areas to ensure timely intervention. Failure to act decisively risks Pakistan falling further behind the WHO's 2030 goal of eradicating rabies deaths.
