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Rabies Deaths Surge: Sindh's Canine Crisis Ignites
20 Oct
Summary
- Sindh recorded 42 rabies deaths this year.
- Two more victims died on Monday, alarming health experts.
- A study found high rabies virus prevalence in Karachi dogs.
The number of rabies-related fatalities in Sindh has reached 42 this year, following the deaths of two more victims on Monday. Healthcare experts have expressed grave concern, urging the government to implement swift measures for the removal and sheltering of stray dogs. One victim, a 38-year-old man from Hyderabad, passed away at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre with symptoms of hydrophobia and fever, having been bitten on the face four months prior.
Another fatality involved a 52-year-old man referred from Nawabshah to Liaquat University Hospital in Hyderabad. The Pakistan Medical Association highlighted that the primary issue is the presence of stray dogs, as rabies is almost invariably a consequence of dog bites. They advocate for a systematic approach involving the capture, isolation, neutering, and feeding of stray dogs in designated shelters.
Recent research from Indus Hospital revealed a significant circulation of the rabies virus among Karachi's street dogs, with 64% of tested samples containing the virus. This finding reinforces the critical need for urgent interventions to manage the canine population and prevent further transmission of the deadly disease to humans.
