Home / Health / Karachi Rabies Crisis: Dog Bites Leave 28 Injured
Karachi Rabies Crisis: Dog Bites Leave 28 Injured
1 Jan
Summary
- 28 people were injured in a single dog attack in Karachi.
- 64% of stray dog bite wounds in Karachi tested positive for rabies.
- Pakistan has not yet responded to WHO's offer for rabies vaccine assistance.
A harrowing incident at Indus Hospital's Rabies Prevention Centre saw 28 individuals, including children, treated for severe dog bites following an attack in Karachi's Korangi district. The wounds varied from minor lacerations to deep gashes, with many requiring immediate medical attention. This event underscores a critical public health crisis, as recent research revealed a startling 64% of fresh, untreated wounds from stray dogs in the area tested positive for the rabies virus.
The situation is exacerbated by a lack of coordinated efforts, with medical, veterinary, and animal rights sectors at odds. Expertise among health professionals is inconsistent, and access to high-quality vaccines and treatment like equine rabies immune globulin (RIG) is limited, particularly for the poorest communities. Pakistan's lack of engagement with global initiatives, such as WHO's 2030 rabies elimination goal and GAVI's subsidized vaccines, further compounds the problem.
